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The causative agents of trichophytosis (Trichophyton)
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
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Trichophytosis (synonym: ringworm) is caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton. There are anthroponous and zooangroposophic trichophytosis.
Anthroponous (superficial) trichophytosis is caused by T. Tonsurans and T. Vialaceum. The incubation period is 1 week. Only people suffer, more often children. Infection occurs with close contact with the patient or through household items. Often the sportsmen-wrestlers as a result of transfer of T. Tonsurans by a contact way (a deprive of a trunk of gladiators) began to be amazed. Inflammation and peeling of the center of oval foci of the skin develop. Hair is affected by the type of "endotriks" and breaks off at the surface of the skin. The pure culture of T. Tonsurans is represented by a steep (2-3 μm) colorless, rarely septate mycelium, pear-shaped microconidia, arthrospores, chlamydospores and sometimes macroconidia. The pure culture of T. Vialaceum consists of a thin (3-4 μm) crimped, low-septated mycelium, a variety of chlamydospores. Arthrospores appear in old cultures.
Zooanthroponous (infiltrative-suppuration) trichophytosis is caused by T. Mentagrophytes var. Mentagrophytes, which is transmitted to humans from mice and pets. The scalp, beard, nails, groans are affected. In the skin abscesses develop, granulomas. Outdoors, there are arthroconidia on the hair ("ectotriks"); hair fall out. The pure fungus culture consists of a thin (2 micron) septate mycelium with effluent hyphae, as well as rounded microconidia (2-4 microns), elongated macroconidia (8x40 microns), and chlamydospores.
T. Verrucosum is transmitted to man from large cattle, calves, horses, donkeys, goats; causes damage to the skin, body hair, head and beard. In open areas of the skin, large foci of lesion with scalloped outlines appear. In the hair is located on the type of "ectotriks." The pure fungus culture consists of a septic mycelium. Teardrop or elongated microconidia, spherical macroconidia (40x5 microns) in the form of beads, and numerous chlamydospores are formed.