Walsh & Hoyt: Chromomycosis (Chromoblastomycosis) and Cerebral Phaeohypomycosis

Chromomycosis is a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal infection that occurs throughout the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. A number of fungi may cause this condition, including Cladosporium carrionii, Cladosporium trichoides, Exophiala dermatitidis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Fonsecaea compacta, Ochroconis gallopavum, Phialophora verrucosa, Rhinocladiella aquaspersa, and Xylohypha bantiana. These fungi typically reside in soil, rotting wood, and decaying vegetation. Traumatic inoculation of fungi into the skin is the main mode of infection. In affected tissue and exudate, all species produce the same type of dark brown cells that are septate and occur singly or in clusters called sclerotic bodies. In culture, all species formheaped-up, dark colonies with short hyphae. They are thus often called ""dematiaceous fungi.""