The Causal Agents of Black Grain Mycetoma in Bengal

Abstract

Ten cases of black grain mycetoma of foot are described. The micromorphology of the black grain sections, made manually, was in correlation with the cultural study. Madurelia grisea was isolated from 9 cases and.Madurella mycetomi from one. Cultural, morphological, physiological and biochemical properties of 9 isolates of M. grisea and one of M. mycetomi isolated from the cases, were inconformity with those of type species. There was involvement of bony tissues in both the types of infection. The disease followed previous trauma in 2 cases and was localised even in the cases of 18 years duration. There was higher predilection of adult males than females to this disease, but occupation had no relation. The prevalence of these infections in India are discussed.