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 μm 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 μm in size. Trichophyton species are the most common cause of athlete's foot (tinea pedis).[1]
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.[2] 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 onychocola |
geophilic |
| 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
