Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton(T.) mentagrophytes is one of common dermatophytes in Korea. The strain has a various colonial morphology; the colonial morphology of granular and powdery forms is very similar to Microsporum(M.) persicolor.

OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the mycologic features of T. mentagrophytes and to investigate the possibility of existence of M. persicolor among granular forms of T. mentagrophytes isolated in Korea.

METHODS: Fifty strains of T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes were examined and compared with standard strain of RV 28710 Nannizzia (Arthroderma) persicolor (+), RV 28709 Nannizzia (Arthroderma) persicolor (-), RV 27960 Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (+), RV 27961 Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (-), RV 26678 Arthroderma benhamiae (+) and RV 26680 Arthroderma benhamiae (-). They were cultured in 4% NaCl Sabouraud dextrose agar (NaCl SDA) at 25℃ and 37℃, and Trichophyton agar (TA) I, II, III, IV at 25℃. The growth pattern, size and microscopic findings of colony at 4, 7 and 14 days were examined.

RESULTS:

1) The growth rate of T. mentagrophytes's colony showed that the mean size of the colony was 6.6 mm at 7 days and 28.0 mm at 14 days cultured in NaCl SDA at 25℃. Colony surface was granular and fawnbrown in color.

2) Cultured at 37℃, colony size was 3.8 mm at 7 days, 5.6 mm at 14 days and growth pattern was same as cultured at 25℃.

3) The mean size of M. persicolor's colony was 7.5 mm at 7 days and 28.0 mm at 14 days cultured in NaCl SDA at 25℃. Colony surface was powdery and fawnbrown in color. Cultured at 37℃, the colony sizes was 3 mm at 7 days and 3.5 mm at 14 days.

4) The growth rate of the colonies was not different M. persicolor from T. mentagrophytes at 37℃.

5) The microscopic findings of T. mentagrophytes showed smooth-surfaced macroconidia with septated 4-7 cells, microconidia, and spiral hyphae.

6) The microscopic findings of M. persicolor showed many macorconidia with septated 3-7 cells. On the surface of macroconidia, fine granules were found.

CONCLUSION: The results showed no difference in gross mycologic features between T. mentagrophytes and M. persicolor cultured at 37℃ but microscopic findings were different. We could not identified M. persicolor among granular forms of T. mentagrophytes.  

Keywords

Microsporum persicolor Mycologic features Trichophyton mentagrophytes

KJMM 1999 December;4(2):109-116(8). Epub 2016 February 23
Copyright © 1999 by Korean Journal of Medical Mycology

Language

Korean/English

Author

Kyung Soo Kim; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea
Dong Hoon Shin; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea
Jong Soo choi; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea
Ki Hong Kim; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea
Youn Joon Bang; Catholic Skin Clinic, Taegu, Korea

Corresponding

Ki Hong Kim, Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea.

Publication history

Acknowledgements

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Kyung Soo Kim

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea

Dong Hoon Shin

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea

Jong Soo choi

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea

Ki Hong Kim

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea

Youn Joon Bang

Catholic Skin Clinic, Taegu, Korea

Since epub date 2016 February 23