Actinomadura madurae causing mycetomas in Madras.

Two hundred and ten histologically diagnosed cases of mycetoma filed in the Departments of Pathology of four Medical Colleges in Tamil Nadu, India, between 1964-1987 were subjected to detailed histopathological study; Actinomadura madurae, was found in 73 of them. In nine cases of mycetoma pedis, the organism A. madurae has been isolated in pure culture. In one case, the lesions were present in both the feet. The characteristic cream-coloured granules were seen in all. The lesions responded well to a combination of Streptomycin and dapsone.

Mycotic keratitis in Madras.

Corneal scrapings from 698 clinically suspected cases of mycotic keratitis were investigated for evidence of fungal infection. Of these, 322 were found to be positive by direct examination and/or culture. The infection was predominantly seen in the age group 21-50. Men were more frequently affected than women. Majority of the patients were either agricultural workers or out door manual labourers and 66.8% of them gave a definite history of antecedent corneal trauma due to vegetable or soil matter. Asperyllus flavus was the commonest causal agent isolated from 55 cases (17.1%), followed by A. niger (13.7%), A. fumigatus (10.9%), A. terreus (1.2%), A. glaucus (0.9%), and Pseudoallescheria boydii (0.6%). The order of occurrence of the genera of fungi isolated was Aspergillus, Acremonium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Candida, Syncephalastrum, Penicillium, Aureobasidium, Drechslera, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Alternaria, Mucor, Pseudoallecheria and lastly Paecilomyces and Trichoderma from one case each.