Experimental studies on the persistence in distilled water of certain conditional pathogenic fungi.

The authors followed up the behaviour in distilled water of 8 fungus strains belonging to four species (Candida albicans, C. krusei, Geotrichum candidum and Rhodotorula) kept at various temperatures (i.e. +4 degrees, +18 degrees and 25 degrees C). The average and the maximum survival periods were found to be as follows: C. albicans--476/1138 days, C. krusei--411/1138 days, G. candidum--127/219 days, and R. rubra--139/226 days. All strains revealed periodically multiplication bursts of variable intensity depending on the kind of species and the temperature at which the cultures were maintained. These findings plead for the existence of cryptic periods of growth in fungi, too. Although, during the experiments, the variants occurred as concerns the morphological and cultural characteristics, sugar fermentation, sugar and nitrate assimilation, germ tube formation did not undergo any modifications. The pathogenic characteristics of C. albicans strains for rabbit were retained even after 1096 days maintenance in distilled water at 18 degrees C.