All Notes

Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton: Definition, Differences and, Footages of Dermatophytes

Definition of Dermatophytes

Dermatophytes are a common label for a group of three types of keratinophilic fungi that infect keratinized tissues causing diseases known as dermatophytoses and they are Trichophyton,  Microsporum, and Epidermophyton that commonly cause skin, nail, and hair disease in our body.

Fig. Tinea corporis, branching hyphae of dermatophytes, growth of Trichophyton, Epidermophyton in LPCB mount microscopic footage, and bamboo hyphae of Microsporum ferrugineum

Differences among Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton

The differences among Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton are as follows-

CharacterTrichophytonMicrosporum Epidermophyton
Site of infectionHair, nail, and skinHair and skin onlySkin and nail only
Colony morphology
on SDA
Powderly pigmentedCotton like pigmentedPowderly greenish-yellow
Spores
a. MicroconidiaAbundantRelatively scantyAbsent
b. MacroconidiaPencil or cylindrical shapedSpindle-shapedClub or pear-shaped
Table: Differences among Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton

Footages of Dermatophytes

Ringworm in the groin region of a patient

Fig. Ringworm in the groin region of a patient

Dermatophytes in KOH Mount of Skin scrapping

Fig. Dermatophytes in KOH Mount of Skin scrapping

Trichophyton colony characteristics

Fig. Trichophyton colony characteristics on DTM

Microsporum ferrugineum in LPCB Mount showing bamboo hyphae and the absence of both microconidia and macroconidia

Fig. Microsporum ferrugineum in LPCB Mount showing bamboo hyphae and the absence of both microconidia and macroconidia

Nail Dermatophytes in Nail Clipping KOH Mount Microscopy

Fig. Nail Dermatophytes in Nail Clipping KOH Mount Microscopy

Epidermophyton in LPCB Tease Mount

Fig. Epidermophyton in LPCB Tease Mount showing racquet hyphae and thin-walled macroconidia, chlamydospores, and absence of microconidia suggestive for E. floccosum

Further Reading

  1. Clinical Microbiology Procedure Handbook, Chief in editor H.D. Isenberg, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, Publisher ASM (American Society for Microbiology), Washington DC.
  2. A Text-Book of Medical Mycology. Editor: Jagdish Chandar, Publication Mehata, India.
  3. Medical Mycology. Editors:  Emmons and Binford, 2nd ed 1970, Publisher Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia.
  4. Practical Laboratory Mycology. Editors: Koneman E.W. and G.D. Roberts, 3rd ed 1985, Publisher Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
  5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/epidermophyton
  6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264553316_Dermatophytosis_Causes_clinical_features_signs_and_treatment
  7. https://cmr.asm.org/content/cmr/8/2/240.full.pdf
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88888/
Medical Lab Notes

View Comments

  • It’s in point of fact a nice and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  • You should be a part of a contest for one of the best websites on the internet.
    I'm going to recommend this web site!

    Feel free to surf to my homepage: special

  • Superb site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I'd really like to be a part of online community where I can get advice from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Appreciate it!

  • I will right away clutch your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you've any? Kindly let me recognise in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  • Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this
    blog loading? I'm trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it's the blog.

    Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.

  • As I website possessor I conceive the articles here is really fantastic, appreciate it for your efforts.

  • It?s really a great and useful piece of information. I?m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  • I do not even know how I finished up right here, however I thought this post used to be good. I don't recognise who you might be however definitely you're going to a well-known blogger if you happen to aren't already ;) Cheers!

Recent Posts

Myroides species: Introduction, Pathogenicity, Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynotes

 Introduction         Myroides species are emerging, opportunistic, extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that are gaining increasing clinical…

1 week ago

Klebsiella aerogenes: Introduction, Pathogenicity, Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynotes

Introduction Klebsiella aerogenes (formerly known as Enterobacter aerogenes) is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacterium belonging…

1 month ago

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: Introduction, Pathogenicity, Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynote

Introduction and Taxonomy Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a major veterinary pathogen that serves as a primary…

1 month ago

Detecting Low-Yield Target Fungal DNA from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid: Sensitivity Limits of Conventional vs. Quantitative PCR

Introduction 0.5 ng/µL of DNA is detectable and can yield a positive result by PCR.…

2 months ago

Quick Fungal and Bacterial DNA Extraction: Introduction, Principle, Method, Procedure, DNA Concentration, Application, and Keynotes

 Introduction The Quick-DNA™ Fungal/Bacterial Miniprep Kit is designed for the simple and rapid extraction of…

2 months ago

Kocuria rosea -Introduction, Pathogenicity, Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynote

Introduction Kocuria rosea is a Gram-positive, aerobic coccus belonging to the family Micrococcaceae. Formerly classified…

2 months ago