Abstract

Keywords

Morphology Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes species are common causative pathogens for human and animal dermatophytoses with variable morphology, ecologic and genetic backgrounds[1],[2]. T. mentagrophytes causes tinea pedis, tinea unguium, and highly contagious tinea corporis and tinea capitis in human and tinea barbae is the classic form that presents mild to severe pustular folliculitis[3]. Anthoropophilic strains of T. mentgrophytes are T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes var. nodulare, T. mentagrophytes var. goetzii, and zoophilic strains of T. mentagrophytes are T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum (rodents), T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei (hedgehog), T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum (mice and camels)[2].

The colonies of T. mentagrophytes are variable, and divided into four subtypes; granular type, powdery type, persicolor type, downy type (Figure 1A). Anthropophilic isolates having a downy, powdery or fluffy texture, while zoophilic isolated was more granular in morphology (Figure 1B). The reverse side of colony shows various color from yellow to reddish brown (Figure 1B). Microscopic morphology of T. mentagrophytes shows microconidia are spherical to pyriform and macroconidia show cigar to club shaped (Figure 1C). Macroconidia have a smooth wall and between 3 to 8 septated cells and spiral or coiled hyphae may be presents[1]. Macroscopic morphology and microscopic examination may help identification of species, although it can be distinguished more accurately by using molecular biological analysis[2],[3].

Figure 1. (A) Colonies of T. mentagrophytes cultured on the Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 2 weeks after incubation at 25℃: granular type (1), powdery type (2), persicolor type (3), downy type (4) (B) Cream-colored granular colonies on Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 25℃ for 10 days (front and reverse side) (C) Characteristic spiral hyphae, macroconidia and grape-shaped microconidia were shown in the slide culture of T. mentagrophytes (Lactophenol cotton blue, X 400).

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

In relation to this article, I declare that there is no conflict of interest.

References

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JMI 2018 March;23(1):30-31(2). 10.17966/JMI.2018.23.1.30 Epub 2018 April 01
Copyright © 2018 by Journal of Mycology and Infection

Language

English

Author

Min Woo Park
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Jun Suk Hong
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Moo Kyu Suh
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Gyoung Yim Ha
Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Corresponding

Moo Kyu Suh, Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, 87 Dongdae-ro, Gyeongju, Kyungbuk, 38067, Korea. Phone: +82-10-3805-9223, Fax: +82-54-770-8160, e-mail: smg@dongguk.ac.kr

Publication history

Received 2017 October 06; Revised 2017 November 02; Accepted 2017 December 19.

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.

Min Woo Park

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Jun Suk Hong

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Moo Kyu Suh

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Gyoung Yim Ha

Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

Since epub date 2018 April 01