title: Endocarditis caused by Blastoschizomyces capitatus and taxonomic review of the genus.
abstract: Blastoschizomyces capitatus Salkin, Gordon, Samsonoff et Rieder was found to be the etiologic agent of endocarditis in a patient with a prosthetic mitral valve. Cultures inoculated with peripheral blood and portions of the valve yielded B. capitatus. Examination of stained tissue sections revealed the presence of fungal filaments morphologically consistent with this organism. The salient characteristics of B. capitatus and the factors contributing to its recognition as a distinct taxon are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Polacheck
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Salkin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitzes-Cohen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000145:classification*; D014774:Virulence