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Further Studies on the Etiology of Granuloma Inguinale
W. A. DeMonbreun
W. A. DeMonbreun
Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tennessee
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E. W. Goodpasture
E. W. Goodpasture
Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tennessee
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Cases of granuloma inguinale are being encountered with greater frequency in the United States, and in view of an apparently increased incidence, particularly in the Gulf and South Atlantic seaboard states, this disease gives promise of becoming an important public health problem in the near future. The method of transmission of the infection remains uncertain, and acceptable proof of the cultivation of the etiological agent has not been forthcoming.
In a previous report (1), based on cytologic and cultural studies of the lesions of granuloma inguinale, we expressed the opinion that the Donovan organism, generally regarded as the etiologic agent, is cytotropic, and that its multiplication takes place mainly, if not entirely, within the large mononuclear cells that occur so abundantly in the lesions. All of our previous attempts to cultivate the Donovan organism resulted in failure.
Since these earlier studies numerous additional cases of the disease have been encountered in the clinics of the Vanderbilt University Hospital.