Photomicrograph of Prototheca wickerhamii infection in a human. Note the floret-like arrangements. Hematoxylin and eosin stain. Photomicrograph of Prototheca wickerhamii infection in a human. Note the floret-like arrangements. Gomori methenamine silver(GMS) stain. Photomicrograph of Prototheca wickerhamii infection in a human. Note the floret-like arrangements. Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) stain. Prototheca has been thought to be a mutant of Chlorella, a type of single-celled green alga. However, while Chlorella contains galactose and galactosamine in the cell wall, Prototheca lacks these. Also, Chlorella obtains its energy through photosynthesis, while Prototheca is saprotrophic, feeding on dead and decaying organic matter. When Prototheca was first isolated from slime flux of trees in 1894, it was thought to be a type of fungus. Its size varies from 2 to 15 micrometres.
Protothecosis
Otomycosis
Botryomycosis
Zygomycosis
Dermatomycosis
Diphyllobothriasis
Geotrichosis
Tularemia