Efficiency of the flotation method in the isolation of Penicillium marneffei from seeded soil.

The efficiency of a modified flotation method for the isolation of Penicillium marneffei from soils has been evaluated. About 80% was recovered from sterilized soil freshly seeded with P. marneffei (100 conidia/1.5 g soil). When seeded non-sterile soil was used (at least 100 seeded conidia/1.5 g soil), P. marneffei could be effectively recovered by employing a combination of the flotation method and the mouse inoculation method.