Barrel-shaped arthroconidia are characteristic of which one of the following fungi?: (A) E. floccosum, (B) C. immitis, (C) Phialophora verrucosa, (D) M. canis
Answer is B. Microscopic examination of fungal isolates is essential to the identification of the organism.C. immitis is a dimorphic fungus endemic in some regions of the south-western United States and in Latin America. In tissue, the organism exists as a spherule filled with endospores. When grown on solid media, the organism produces barrel-shaped arthroconidia, which stain with lactophenol cotton blue.