Resumen

PEREZ, C et al. Preservation of Cryptococcus sp. with the Castellani method.. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2003, vol.23, n.2, pp.153-157. ISSN 1315-2556.

The difficulties to keep bacterial or fungal strains viable, morphological and physiological stable during variable periods of time, are well known. Different conservation methods with diverse levels of efficiency are therefore in use: periodical sub culturing, liophilization, mineral oil immersion and the Castellani method among others. In 1989 Hartung et al. confirmed the effectiveness of this method to preserve fungi, kept in collection at the medical mycology section at the Tropical Medicine Institute in the Universidad Central de Venezuela since 1962. The present study evaluates the morphological stability, viability and purity of 26 Cryptococcus sp. strains kept in this collection for variable periods of time, up to 40 years.