DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

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Descriptions of Medical Fungi
Bird Seed Agar
SPECIALISED CULTURE MEDIA
For selective isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii.
Guizotia abyssinica (niger seed) 50 g Glucose 1 g
KH 2
PO 4
(potassium dihydrogen 1 g Creatinine 1 g
orthophosphate)
Bacto agar (BD 214010) 15 g Distilled water 1000 mL
Penicillin G (20 units/mL) 1 mL Gentamicin (40 mg/mL) 1 mL
1. Grind seeds of Guizotia abyssinica as finely as possible with an electric grinder
and add to 1000 mL distilled water in a stainless steel jug.
2. Boil for 30 minutes, then pass through filter paper and adjust volume to 1000
mL.
3. Add remaining ingredients (except Bacto agar) to filtrate and dissolve.
If required: Cool to room temperature and adjust pH to 5.5.
Dispense into 500 mL bottles.
4. Add 7.5 g Bacto agar to each 500 mL bottle.
5. Autoclave 121 O C for 20 minutes.
6. Cool to 48 O C and add 0.5 mL Penicillin G and 0.5 mL Gentamicin to each 500
mL bottle of bird seed agar.
7. Mix gently and pour into 90 mm plastic petri dishes.
Bromocresol Purple Milk Solids Glucose Agar (BCP)
For the differentiation of Trichophyton species (Fischer and Kane 1971; Summerbell
et al. 1988).
Solution A:
Distilled water
1000 mL
Skim milk powder (Carnation Brand)
80 g
Bromcresol (or bromocresol) purple
2 mL
(1.6% solution in alcohol)
Dissolve in 2 litre flask and autoclave 121 O C for 10 minutes.
Solution B:
Glucose 40 g Distilled water 200 mL
Dissolve and autoclave at 121 O C for 10 minutes.
Solution C:
Bacto agar (BD 214010) 30 g Distilled water 800 mL
Soak for 15 minutes in 3 litre flask; autoclave at 121 O C for 10 minutes.
To make media add solution A and B to solution C. Adjust final pH to 6.6.
Aseptically dispense for slopes (7 mL amounts into bottles).