A Study of Monilia and Other Yeastlike Organisms Found in the Oral Cavity

From the standpoint of botanical terminology the name Monilia should not be applied to the human pathogens since a group of sapro-phytic fungi are so called. However, usage has designated the term Monilia familiar to medical mycologists as a yeastlike organism devoid of ascospores, reproducing by budding, and under certain conditions developing mycelia (1, 2). The other organisms closely related to the Moniliae are Endomyces, Cryptococci and S&charomyces. The following chart illustrates the essential morphological points of difference between these organisms. Yeastlike fungi mycelia