Fungal spores???

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:16:56 GMT

As the Simpsons taught me: The lesson is, never try... In all seriousness thanks for the advice!

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:14:30 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

I seem to remember a boring third year lecture and it had to be blue-black quink ink.

[/quote]

Yes, that is quite correct and I assume that is what James was using. The blue-black is understandable because of the mix of dyes that it contains but nobody has ever explained to me why it has to be Quink and not another brand. Anyway, James, you tried; full marks for that, and you will know the technique next time. Thanks for keeping us informed.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:52:55 GMT

Was definitely blue black. Guessing they're some kind of artefact and not spores

Re: Fungal spores???

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:36:41 GMT

I seem to remember a boring third year lecture and it had to be blue-black quink ink.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:59:39 GMT

No joy with the staining, well, no fugal spore like uptake of the quink anyway... Think it may be seeing a dermatologist so if we get any answer or definitive dx I'll update.

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:46:18 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]Same plan with a drop of vinegar and drop of quink is it?[/quote]

Yes, more or less; accuracy is not essential in timing nor in making up the KOH. I would use the strongest vinegar available and leave the stain on a bit longer. Evelyn has suggested NaOH and I do not see why that might not do; I would use it more dilute than the KOH though. I make up the stain as I want it. A few drops of KOH in a test tube, a similar quantity of Quink, swirl it around and put a drop or two on the specimen. I am not sure that the complete stain would keep well; the caustic might bleach the ink.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:45:57 GMT

Someone else has offered, I'm just not sure I fancy the hassle of making it up... Too lazy?

Re: Fungal spores???

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:16:32 GMT

Two thoughts:

1. Does it have to be KOH? Would not caustic soda NaOH do just as well?

2. I have some KOH (there used not to be the slightest difficulty obtaining it). Am I allowed to send you a bit?

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 14:31:09 GMT

Might go with the white vinegar... KOH from suppliers has been a dead end, had a chaotic week, so I'll give it a go on Monday and let you know. Same plan with a drop of vinegar and drop of quink is it?

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:55:32 GMT

Hi, James.

Any useful outcome or was it all for nowt?

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 05:33:15 GMT

WOW! This thread really shows the value of vetsurgeon.org. Some good, helpful and interesting practical info here. Must follow up some of it; but I don't think that I shall try biodiesel from chip fat but an interesting comment all the same. Do please let us know your results, James.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:16:58 GMT

We get them from this spot:

http://betterequipped.co.uk/epages/eshop243309.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop243309/Products/prd5235

They are very good value for lab stuff (including stains). It says chemicals to education establishments only but I contacted them and they were happy to send to a vet practice.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:11:00 GMT

Thanks again all!!! Will see if I can get my teacher partner to get some from her schools chem lab first.

Re: Fungal spores???

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:47:54 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]

Found quink easily. Any ideas where I can get the KOH solution? No luck at chemist or doctors, waiting to see if dunlops/henry schein can get it as a special order...

[/quote]

James

I have the KOH as crystals. I can send you some? PM me an address.

Re: Fungal spores???

mariette asselbergs — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:47:49 GMT

If you know anybody making biodiesel from chipfat, they have 25 kg bags of KOH, easy to make a 40% solurion. If you want I can send you some by post, contact me if necessary.

Mariette 07550268513

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:28:23 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]Any ideas where I can get the KOH solution? [/quote]

You might have better luck with a definite supplier of laboratory reagents such as VetLab Supplies, or can you wheedle some from a nearby lab (veterinary or medical) or a veterinary school? If possible obtain it as pellets (tablets) to be dissolved in a given quantity of distilled water; this saves you the tedious business of weighing a small amount and car battery water is adequate as the distilled water.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:04:23 GMT

Found quink easily. Any ideas where I can get the KOH solution? No luck at chemist or doctors, waiting to see if dunlops/henry schein can get it as a special order...

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:24:29 GMT

Will try and hunt these down - feel a bit like a less exciting MacGyver!

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:17:53 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]Thanks guys. Will see if I can find the stains you mentioned, but might be a bit past staining now!!!

[/quote]

The hair and the spores on it or in it should keep for some time even if it becomes dry, so have a go, there is nothing to lose. If you cannot find KOH try strong white vinegar (acetic acid) with the Quink (and perhaps other blue-black inks would work as well). I have not used the vinegar trick myself but I am told that it often does work as a substitute.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:36:17 GMT

Thanks guys. Will see if I can find the stains you mentioned, but might be a bit past staining now!!!

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:12:16 GMT

Even enlarged, the image is not very clear in my browser but I cannot see recognisable fungal spores. However, if possible do try some staining for mycelia.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:59:07 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I always thought fungal spores were found on the outside of the hair shaft not within the medulla so I would say not.

[/quote]

They can be either ectothrix or endothrix.

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:23:44 GMT

I always thought fungal spores were found on the outside of the hair shaft not within the medulla so I would say not.

Re: Fungal spores???

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:41:29 GMT

If I remember correctly, a useful stain in these circumstances is equal volumes (one drop) of 40% KOH and Parker Super Quink blue-black ink. The mycelia stain blue, the spores may or may not do so but do show as refractile bodies. It saves fuffing about with Cotton Blue lactophenol but perhaps Quink ink is not available now?

Tim.

Re: Fungal spores???

James Laidlaw — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:10:58 GMT

Oh, apparently if you click on the image it comes up much larger and easier to see detail.