Blastomyces dermatitidis

MICROBIOLOGY

• Dimorphic fungus found along Mississippi, Missouri, St. Lawrence and Ohio rivers and regions that border Great Lakes in U.S. and Canada. Occurs in Africa, and a few cases have been reported in Europe, Middle East and India.
• Grows as a broad-based budding yeast at 37^oC. At 25^oC, produces mycelia and can produce conidia.
• Grows in moist soil with acidic pH and high organic content (decaying vegetation, close to water, areas of high humidity).
• Commercially available molecular probe offers rapid identification of culture.