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. 2013;8(3):e57774.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057774. Epub 2013 Mar 6.

A histopathological exploration of the Madurella mycetomatis grain

Anahid Izzat Ibrahim  1 , Ahmed Mohammed El Hassan, Ahmed Fahal, Wendy W van de Sande
Affiliations

A histopathological exploration of the Madurella mycetomatis grain

Anahid Izzat Ibrahim et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Although the Madurella mycetomatis grains seem to interfere with the host defense mechanisms and impede the antifungal drugs penetration, yet their histological features are not fully known and hence this study was set out to determine that. The study included 80 patients with confirmed M. mycetomatis eumycetoma. After informed written consent, surgical biopsies were obtained from the excised tissues during the patients' surgical treatment. All sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Grocott's hexamine silver, Periodic Acid-Schiff's, Masson-Fontana, Perl's Prussian Blue, Von-kossa's, Formalin Inducing Fluorescence and Schmorl's stains. Modified bleaching technique was used. The concentrations of Zinc, Copper, Calcium, Iron, Lead, Cobalt and Nickel were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The M. Mycetomatis grains appeared to consist of lipid, protein and melanin. The melanin was located on the hyphal wall as thick layers. The Zinc, Copper and Calcium concentrations in the grains were four, six, and sixteen folds higher than in normal tissue respectively, the other metals were found in the same concentrations as in normal tissue. In the grains, calcium was located in the melanin vicinity. From this study, it can be concluded that, the grains contain melanin, heavy metals, proteins, lipids and they contribute in the formation of the grain cement matrix. These elements seem to contribute in the organism pathogenicity and might impede the penetration of various anti-fungal agents.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The photomicrography shows a vesicular type of grain.
The hyphae are mainly in the periphery and are swollen. The centre of the grain consists of cement substance (H&E×40).
Figure 2
Figure 2. The photomicrography shows melanin in the grain.
The hyphae at the periphery of the grain are covered with melanin (Masson-Fontana stain for melanin ×40).
Figure 3
Figure 3. The photomicrography shows cements substance and hyphae staining a blue colour with Schmorl’s stain for melanin (Schmorl’s stain ×40).
Figure 4
Figure 4. The photomicrography shows the hyphae and cement substances are positive for calcium (Von Kossa stain ×40).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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