Comparative study of an isolate resembling Banti's fungus with Cladosporium trichoides.

A fungus isolated from a subcutaneous abscess of a cat was found to fit closely to the description of Banti's fungus, Torula bantiana Saccardo, which was reclassified by Borelli as Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli. The cat isolate was different from Cladosporium trichoides Emmons in conidial size, branching of conidial chains, and minimum, optimum, and maximum temperature for growth. Although the isolate was neurotropic in mice, the fungal morphology in mouse brain was clearly different from C. trichoides. From this study, it was apparent that C. bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli and C. trichoides Emmons should be regarded as two separate species. The 2 species were compared with C. carrionii Trejos.