TEST PAGE
Trichophyton is a dermatophyte filamentous fungus. It is a common cause superficial infections such as onychomycosis and various kinds of tinea, although it can occasionally become invasive.
The taxonomy of Trichophyton spp. and other dermatophytic fungi has recently been revised (de Hoog et al, 2017). There are 16 accepted species in 4 series or complexes of which T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are the most common. T. rubrum and T. violaceum are considered similar as part of the one complex. Species within the T. mentagrophytes series include T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, T. interdigitale and T. schoenleinii. A new clade within the T. mentagrophytes complex has emerged in India, with high levels of terbinafine resistance (Singh, 2019).
Factsheets
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
NAMES Trichophytonmentagrophytes |
NATURAL HABITAT Humans and occasionally animals such as cats, dogs and rats. |
GEOGRAPHY Worldwide |
DISEASES Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris, onychomycosis and occasionally Tinea capitis. |
FREQUENCY The second most common cause of dermatophytosis. |
CULTURE Colonies are white or cream, with a yellow pigment and the surface has a powdery appearance. The underside of the plate is orange to yellow. Microscopy shows abundant conidia, either rounded or tear shaped. Macroconidia are usually absent when the strain has been isolated from humans, and can form fine-walled cigar shapes. Biosafety level 2 |
ANTIFUNGAL RESISTANCE Terbinafine would be the optimal treatment, although increasing instances of resistance are described, especially in India. Other antifungals like ketoconazole, clotrimazole, itraconazole, naphthalene and amorolfine are also active. This species is generally resistant to fluconazole. Patients failing terbinafine usually respond to high dose (i.e. 400 mg daily) itraconazole. |
INDUSTRIAL USES None |
Trichophyton rubrum
NAMES Trichophyton rubrum Granular type and downy type. |
NATURAL HABITAT Anthropophilic dermatophyte: infectious lesions (tinea); animals very rarely infected.T. rubrum is an obligate human pathogen not found in the environment. |
GEOGRAPHY Worldwide. Granular strain is a frequent cause of tinea corporis in South East Asia and in Aborigines living in the Northern Territory of Australia. American troops returning from the Vietnam War brought this strain back with them and refugees from South East Asia also facilitated the global spread. The downy type evolved from the granular strain by establishing a niche on the feet (tinea pedis), when the latter was imported into Europe about 100 years ago. |
DISEASES Tinea of the groin, glabrous skin, feet, hands, and the nails. Tinea cruris, tinea corporis, tinea pedis, tinea manuum, and onychomycosis. The scalp is very rarely infected. |
PREVALENCE Most widely distributed dermatophyte of man. |
CULTURE Biosafety level 2 |
ANTIFUNGAL RESISTANCE Ketoconazole, clotrimazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine, naftifine, and amorolfine are in general active in vitro against T. rubrum. Terbinafine resistance has recently emerged and reference susceptibility testing methods are now published, although Etest strips can be used. |
INDUSTRIAL USES None |
Trichophyton rubrum downy type C haracteristic deep wine-red reverse pigment Microscopy of a culture of T. rubrum Direct microscopy of T. rubrum hyphae in a skin sample