Thermotolerance of Wangiella dermatitidis

A variety of diagnostic tests used by many laboratories to identify isolates of Wangiella dermatitidis (= Fonsecaea dermatitidis) were evaluated. Thirteeen isolates of W. dermatitidis were studied with respect to their ability to grow at 25, 37, 40, 45, and 50 degrees C, colonial and micromorphology, gelatin liquefaction, and hydrolysis of casein, xanthine, hypoxanthine, and tyrosine. All 13 isolates showed growth at 25, 37, and 40 degrees C but failed to grow at higher temperatures. The ability of W. dermatitidis to grow at 40 degrees C can be useful in its identification.