Mycology, Bacteriology, and Histopathology of Suppurative Ringworm

Abstract

Dyestuffs from Nigerian plants were extracted and their staining ability on some species of bacteria, fungi and tissue biopses were determined. The study was carried out, to demonstrate the potential use of G. kola mesocarp, V. doniana fruit, L. aculaeta fruit, L. inermis leaf, C. ferrugnea fruit and P. soyauxii stem extracts as dyes/stains on Escherischia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and human appendix tissue. Fully automated Soxhlet solvent extraction technique was used for the extraction using ethanol and methanol. Solvent-Solvent fractionation technique was also, done to obtain purer form of the plants extracts using Ethylacetate, N-hexane and N-butanol as solvent. The simple stains like neutral red, lactophenol cotton blue and Haematoxylin & Eosin were used as positive controls for staining bacterial, fungi morphology and human appendix tissues respectively. The dyestuff showed stronger staining affinity for fungi than bacteria and tissue biopses. The extracts of C. ferruginea and P. soyauxii treated with inorganic acid, (Hydrochloric acid) increased the intensity of their colours from red to deep red colour. In the use of plant extracts as stains\dyes on clinical bacterial isolates, fungal and tissue cells, the pH of the six plants extracts ranged from 4.2 to 6.4. All extracts had acidic pH. The dyestuff prepared from G. kola mesocarp was not soluble in water but was only soluble in organic solvent (methanol and ethanol). V. doniana fruit extract was soluble in water but colour was not fast. L. aculata seed extract did not yield significant colour during extraction with organic solvent as well as with water. L. inemis was moderately soluble in water and more soluble in organic solvent (methanol) although after one week extract appear dark brown. The chemistry behind the colour was not understood. C. ferruginea fruit extract was slightly soluble in water and more soluble in organic solvent (ethanol). Pterocarpus soyauxii dissolved poorly in water probably because of the oil base nature but was very soluble in organic solvent like methanol. Alcohol extract of four plants namely: G. kola, L. inermis, C. ferruginea, and P. soyauxii stained Gram-negative bacteria poorly without proper differentiation because a suitable accentuator was not discovered in this study to enhance their staining pattern. Possible findings from the use of study extracts as stains provide useful alternative that would be readily accessible and cheap which can translate to lower cost of laboratory stains for better management of patients. The results obtained indicate that extracts with good staining ability have the potential for use in the morphological identification of moulds, yeast cells, human appendix tissues and not only used in diagnostic microbiology but also in histology for future studies.

Treatment of Kerions

“…result iti inflammatory lesions, one-third of which are kedons (1). Pus formation in kedons is said to be immunologically mediated rather than secondary to bactedal infection, a conclusion based on an article by Birt (2) and more recent reports by Rasmussen (1) and others (3)(4)(5). Therefore, the use of antibiotics for the treatment of kedons is questioned.…”

Intraepidermal neutrophils – a clue to dermatophytosis?

“…Histopathology can vary from mild hyperkeratosis with scant inflammation to severe compact orthokeratosis and parakeratosis with inflammatory pustules 5 . Diagnosis of dermatophytosis requires the demonstration of fungi within the biopsy, but occasionally, with a severe inflammatory reaction, fungi are demonstrated neither by culture nor by microscopic examination 6–8 . The histologic differential diagnosis includes both non‐infectious and infectious etiologies, such as psoriasis, eczema, pityriasis rosea, and less commonly parapsoriasis, mycosis fungoides, lichen simplex chronicus, pityriasis lichenoides, pityriasis rubra pilaris, candidiasis, impetigo, and syphilis 1,2 , 9 .…”

“…5 Diagnosis of dermatophytosis requires the demonstration of fungi within the biopsy, but occasionally, with a severe inflammatory reaction, fungi are demonstrated neither by culture nor by microscopic examination. [6][7][8] The histologic differential diagnosis includes both non-infectious and infectious etiologies, such as psoriasis, eczema, pityriasis rosea, and less commonly parapsoriasis, mycosis fungoides, lichen simplex chronicus, pityriasis lichenoides, pityriasis rubra pilaris, candidiasis, impetigo, and syphilis. 1,2,9 Based on this broad differential diagnosis, both clinical and histologic clues are valuable to facilitate an accurate diagnosis.…”

An unusual presentation of Trichophyton violaceum infection

“…Deep seated and fatal disseminated granulomatous trichophytoses have been reported (Brit & Wilt, 1954;Spencer 1954;Blank et al, 1959;Blank & Smith, i960;Shetsivali & Arievitch, 1968;Beare, Gentles & Mackenzie, 1972;Araviysky, Araviysky & Eschkov, 1975). Lymphatic or haematogenous spread suggested in some of these cases was associated with reduced general resistance against infection due to debilitating diseases.…”