Effect of drying onParacoccidioides brasiliensis

Abstract

The susceptibility to drying of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis growing on sterilized soils, was investigated using 2 strains with different sporulating capacities. Decreased fungal viability was noted during the 31 day experimental periods. The sporulating strain surpassed its initial viability at the fifth day when 75 days old culture was used, but not with 135 days old culture. Higher water losses, as observed at the 12th and 31st days, were not tolerated by any of the strains. Some viable particles resisted desiccation for at least 31 days and maintained their pathogenicity for hamsters. Colonies developed on small pieces of wood in the inoculum. A progressive drop of viability of the fungus was observed when exposed to a 2°C. environmental temperature with 100% relative humidity. The sporulating strain seemed to resist the deteriorative effect more than did the non-sporulating strain.