P. brasiliensis is a slow-growing mold that, when cultured at 25–30ºC, produces a white-to-tan surface and a variable texture that may be leathery, velvety, or glabrous. Microscopically, the cultured mold reveals septate, hyaline hyphae with terminal and intercalary chlamydospores and infrequent pear-shaped microconidia arranged along the hyphae. The definitive identification requires converting the mold form to the yeast form.
P. brasiliensis is found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Infection can occur by either inhalation or direct inoculation during penetrating injury.
53. CDC/Georg. (1963). Image #4293. This photograph depicts a close view of a slant culture, which contained an unidentified growth medium, that had been inoculated with the fungal organism, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and having undergone an unknown incubation period, gave rise to this yeast phase colony. PHIL public domain. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=4293
