Prototheca
zopfii
(Krüger,
1890)
Morphology:
yeast like colonies, smooth surface and smooth margin
beige or ocher colored.
Micro morphology: round single cells (3-15 µm in diameter) and
some large Sporangiospores with round endospores inside (10-30 µm).
Diagnostics
plate culture on fungi media, e.g. Sabouraud-glucose-agar, Kimmig-agar
subsequent microscopical examination of smears with lactophenole cotton blue
or with PAS-staining or Immunofluoreszence (pathohistology)Differentiation between P. zopfii and P. wickerhamii by assimilation of Trehalose.
P. wickerhamii utilize trehalose; P. zopfii does not.Bovine Prototheca mastitis: indirect ELISA with whey
Infections:
Human protothecosis
only in exceptional cases, usually caused by P. wickerhamii
cutaneous form and systemical form
Canine protothecosis
just as frequent as P. zwickerhamii
cutaneous form and systemical form
Bovine protothecosis
most frequent infection due to heterotrophic algae
Pathogenity
facultative pathogen
predisponating factors, e.g. immunosupression and high lactation
Immune response
induction of specific systemic and lokal antibodies of immunglobuline
isotypes G and Ahigh resistance to phagozytosis
Persistence and proliferation within macrophages and PMN's