Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic, progressive subcutaneous mycosis that is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Cladophialophora carrionii and Fonsecaea pedrosoi are prevalent etiological agents. The potential role of the proteolytic activity of extracellular enzymes in these fungi and its relationship with the pathogenesis of the disease has not been proven. Some phenotypic traits have been associated with the virulence of other fungi; i.e., their different rate of protease, phospholipase, and esterase excretion, melanin, and thermotolerance. The aim of this study was the identification of extracellular enzymes that could be considered virulence markers of chromoblastomycosis agents. Therefore, we tested 29 C. carrionii and 11 F. pedrosoi clinical isolates to determine their hydrolytic and physiologic characteristics. All the tested isolates grew at a range of 30°–37 °C; except 2 strains of F. pedrosoi that grew slowly at 40 °C. We noticed that the hydrolytic capabilities of the tested isolates were positive for urea hydrolysis in almost all, while both strains were negative for DNase, hemolysin, and gelatin. C. carrionii and F. pedrosoi had phospholipase and esterase activity. These findings were similar for most isolates. All strains showed an association between phospholipase activity and moderate to severe lesions. However, only in F. pedrosoi isolates, the association remains significant. We conclude that the different enzymatic production reported here may be linked to the clinical manifestations of these pathologies. Notwithstanding, the influence of other virulence factors is not excluded.

色母细胞病是一种慢性，进行性皮下真菌病，在热带和亚热带国家是地方性的。食肉性克拉德氏菌和小孢子虫（Fonsecaea pedrosoi）是普遍的病原体。尚未证明胞外酶在这些真菌中的蛋白水解活性的潜在作用及其与疾病发病机理的关系。一些表型性状与其他真菌的毒性有关。也就是说，它们的蛋白酶，磷脂酶和酯酶排泄率，黑色素和耐热性的比率不同。这项研究的目的是鉴定胞外酶，这些酶可以被视为成色母细胞病菌的毒力标记。因此，我们测试了29 C. carrionii和11F. pedrosoi临床分离株，以确定其水解和生理特性。所有测试的分离株均在30°–37°C的温度范围内生长。除了2个F. pedrosoi菌株在40°C缓慢生长。我们注意到，测试菌株的水解能力几乎在所有尿素水解中均为阳性，而两种菌株的DNase，溶血素和明胶均为阴性。C. carrionii和F. pedrosoi具有磷脂酶和酯酶活性。对于大多数分离株，这些发现是相似的。所有菌株均显示磷脂酶活性与中度至重度病变之间的关联。但是，仅在pedrosoi孤立，关联仍然很重要。我们得出结论，此处报道的不同酶促生产可能与这些病理的临床表现有关。尽管如此，也不排除其他毒力因素的影响。