Micro structural investigation on Prototheca wickerhamii

Objective: To observed the morphological characteristics of a strain of Prototheca isolated from a nodule specimen on the face of a woman patient.Methods: The strain of Prototheca was directly smeared, isolated and cultured, examined under optic, scanning, and transmitting electronic microscopes for its ultra-structural characterestics. The tissue sections were studied histophathogenically for its pathogenicity.Results: The P.wickerhamil was demonstrated as hyaline, globular or ovoid cell, in which a number of round, ovoid unicellular spores ranging from 1 to 10 could be seen. Numerous morula, daisy-like sporangia could be seen in the superficial layer of dermis in HE stained sections, which were thick-walled, ranged in diameter from 3 to 11 μm, with ovoid or sphenical endospores inside.Conclusion: Based on the microbiological and histopathological examinations, the pathogen of this case was confirmed as P. wickerhamii.