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Six new polyazole derivatives from 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolane were studied for their antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi for humans and animals. The antimycotic effect was largely restricted to the filamentous fungi with Aspergillus fumigatus and Scedosporium apiospermum being remarkably susceptible. Three compounds were as effective as the two references, ketoconazole and oxiconazole. The structure-activity relationships revealed that an ‘oxime group’ combined with four chlorine atoms increased the antifungal properties of the chemical series.

In this paper we report a case of onychomycosis caused by Chaetomium globosum. The patient had lesions of the fingernails of the left hand. The direct microscopical examination of the nails showed light-brown hyphae with thick-walled cells. The histopathological examination revealed thick aggregated hyphal element in the nail plate. Amongst the antimycotics tested oxiconazole with MIC values of 0.3 microgram/ml-1 was found to be most effective in vitro against Chaetomium globosum.

In this study we have demonstrated the occurrence of Sporotrichum pruinosum and Cladosporium oxysporum in the bronchial secretions of a patient with a presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis. This observation coupled with the ability of both fungi to cause infection and elicit tissue responses in experimentally infected mice supported a probable etiologic relationship with the patient which could not be confirmed in the absence of histologic evidence. In vitro some antimycotics were tested against S. pruinosum and C. oxysporum by the agar dilution method. Oxiconazole with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.1 micrograms/ml-1 after 72 h and amorolfine at a concentration of 0.001 micrograms/ml-1 after 72 h were the most active ones against S. pruinosum and C. oxysporum respectively. It is suggested that the isolation of S. pruinosum and C. oxysporum from patients with bronchopulmonary disorders should be viewed with caution. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of such patients should be done critically before arriving at a firm diagnosis.

Aspergillus terreus was isolated from a case of Keratomycosis. The patient, a 50 year old, female presented with a large corneal ulcer with hypopyon. The direct microscopic examination of the scrapings revealed hyaline, thin, septate and branched hyphae. In vitro some antimycotics (amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, oxiconazole, amorolfine and ketoconazole) were tested against A. terreus by agar dilution method. Ketoconazole with MIC of 3 micrograms/ml after 7 days of incubation was most effective followed by oxiconazole (10 micrograms/ml). Experimental corneal ulcer was produced by injecting intralamellary 0.1 ml of the spore suspension containing 10 x 10(6) cfu/ml into the eyes of previously immunocompressed albino rabbits. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration and large destruction of the corneal stroma. Subconjunctival oxiconazole therapy exhibited complete cure. Based on our findings, a clinical evaluation of oxiconazole in human keratomycosis seems to be justified.

Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from a case of keratomycosis. The patient, a 12-year-old boy presented with large corneal ulcer with hypopyon. The direct microscopic examination of scrapings revealed hyaline, septate mycelium. In vitro some antimycotics (amphotericin B,5-fluorocytosine, oxiconazole, amorolfine and ketoconazole) were tested against A. fumigatus by agar dilution method. Ketoconazole with minimum inhibitory concentration of 30 micrograms/ml after 11 days of incubation was most effective against A. fumigatus. Experimental corneal ulcer was produced by injecting intralamellary spore suspension (2.5 x 10(6) c.f.u.) into the right eyes of previously immunosuppressed albino and black wild types of rabbits. The extent of ocular infection was graded up to 32 days. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration and large destruction of corneal stroma. Oral ketoconazole therapy exhibited partial response followed by relapse. The black type of rabbit appeared more suitable as an animal model for mycotic keratitis.