Trichophyton

Trichophyton
Trichophyton rubrum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family: Arthrodermataceae
Genus: Trichophyton

The fungus genus Trichophyton is characterized by the development of both smooth-walled macro- and microconidia. Macroconidia are mostly borne laterally directly on the hyphae or on short pedicels, and are thin- or thick-walled, clavate to fusiform, and range from 4 to 8 by 8 to 50 um in size. Macroconidia are few or absent in many species. Microconidia are spherical, pyriform to clavate or of irregular shape, and range from 2 to 3 by 2 to 4 um in size.

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Effect on humans

Known as "Malabar itch", a skin infection consisting of an eruption of a number of concentric rings of overlapping scales forming papulosquamous patches is caused by the fungus.[1] It also causes athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, and similar infections of the nail, beard, skin and scalp.

Species and their natural reservoirs

Trichophyton ajelloi geophilic
Trichophyton concentricum anthropophilic
Trichophyton equinum zoophilic (horse)
Trichophyton flavescens geophilic (feathers)
Trichophyton gloriae geophilic
Trichophyton megnini anthropophilic
Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei zoophilic (hedgehog)
Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale anthropophilic
Trichophyton phaseoliforme geophilic
Trichophyton rubrum anthropophilic
Trichophyton rubrum downy strain anthropophilic
Trichophyton rubrum granular strain anthropophilic
Trichophyton schoenleinii anthropophilic
Trichophyton simii zoophilic (monkey, fowl)
Trichophyton soudanense anthropophilic
Trichophyton terrestre geophilic
Trichophyton tonsurans anthropophilic
Trichophyton vanbreuseghemii geophilic
Trichophyton verrucosum zoophilic (cattle, horse)
Trichophyton violaceum anthropophilic
Trichophyton yaoundei anthropophilic

References

External links