A previously undescribed synanamorph of Wangiella dermatitidis

A black yeast isolated from a Korean patient with subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis was studied and identified as Wangiella dermatitidis (Kano) McGinnis on the basis of its distinctive morphology, and physiologic and serologic characteristics. In addition to the characteristic diagnostic features of W. dermatitidis, we encountered unusual multicellular structures. These consisted of globose endoconidia contained within thick-walled, dematiaceous bodies. Mycologic observation indicated that a cell increased in size, developed a thickened outer cell wall, and subsequently developed internal septa that split or lysed down their central portions to separate the developing endoconidia. To our knowledge, this reproductive form has not been previously associated with W. dermatitidis. We describe this new synanamorph of the highly polymorphic black fungus W. dermatitidis.