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Several authors have suggested that african and north american forms of Blastomyces dermatitidis appeared separate taxa. Morphologic and pathogenic differences not only prevail, but also the failing to mate between them. African forms lose their mycelium-yeast conversion capability in old cultures. So I propose to create the complementary appellation Blastomyces dermatitidis tunisiens nov.subsp. from the african forms, in memory of the first case of systemic blastomycosis in this continent, discovered in Tunisia.

A 33-year old male Tunisian developed, without any apparent cause, an abscess of the brainstem which was shown by various mycological investigations to be due to a Blastomyces dermatitidis infection. This case is of interest not only because of the exceptional location of the abscess in the brainstem, but also because of its treatment: this was the first case where the fluconazole-flucytosine combination was used against blastomycosis with fully satisfactory results after a 28-month follow-up.

Lobomycosis, or Blastomicose queloidiforme de Jorge Lobo, has been described in men around the North of South America, Central America, and the case reported in Yucatan, Mexico, is the northest. The same disease has been seen in Dolphins in Florida, where the humans cases are unknown. Epidemiology, pathogenic curiosities, and diagnosis are presented for all practicians in the geographic area.

A case of fatal generalized Blastomycosis is reported. It was the first case of that mycosis observed in Algeria. The parasitic yeast-like cells of the fungus were seen in pus and tissue sections and Blastomyces dermatitidis cultured from pathological specimens. Yeast-like form was obtained in vitro on Kurung's agar at 37 degrees C. Male hamsters infected with this strain failed to develop an experimental disease. The occurrence and distribution of Blastomycosis in Africa are discussed.

The study of iconographical data and of six american and african strains of B. dermatitidis allows us to conclude that there are several discriminating characters between the members of the Blastomyces dermatitidis complex. The african strains are distinguished by the lack of sexual forms and old strains show the lost of the M lead to Y conversion. An identical character prevails among the strains of the two continents: tuberculate conidia which are obtained on corn meal agar. The authors are insisting on the identical characters encountered on Blastomyces and Histoplasma. All the mycotic strains described from cases of Gilchrist disease possess a Chrysosporium period. The experimental Gilchrist disease performed on rodents is more often obtained with members of the genus Chrysosporium.