Atypical strains of Microsporum canis

Four atypical isolates of Microsporum canis, three from humans and one from a cat, were obtained from North-West London. These and a further human isolate were compared with each other and with a typical isolate of the fungus. Immediately after isolation the atypical isolates were very labile, but were stabilised after a few subcultures from selected sectors. The stable forms differed from each other, but all had a tendency to brown rather than yellow pigmentation, to feathery submerged mycelium and to abnormal macroconidia. The macroscopic appearance and texture of the colonies depended on the density, orientation and branching pattern of the submerged mycelium. In recent years similar brown, feathery forms of M. canis have been reported from monkeys but not from cats. It is suggested that all such isolates may be culturally stable forms of a very unstable strains, probably feline in origin, which has yet to be described.