27 species of organism (in three genera) cause
cutaneous infections:
Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton
They are known as "Dermatophytes"
Dermatophytes are "skin loving" - they possess
keratin-degrading enzymes in order to cause infection and utilise
keratin in the host, and they grow in non-living tissues of the
skin, hair and nails.
Microsporum species affect skin and nails
Epidermophyton species affect skin and
nails
Trichophyton species affect skin, hair, nails
Click
here to see the diseases caused by these
organisms
T.mentagrophytes
(z)
Image kindly supplied by J. Weber, Med. Micro. & Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison
T.rubrum
(a)
Image kindly supplied by
J. Weber, Med. Micro. & Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison
T.verrucosum
(z)
Image kindly supplied by J. Weber, Med. Micro. & Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison
MICROSPORUM SPECIES
M.audouinii
(a)
Image copyright (c) www.doctorfungus.org and used by permission.
M.canis
(z)
Image kindly supplied by
J. Weber, Med. Micro. & Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.gypseum
(g)
Image kindly supplied by J. Weber, Med. Micro. & Immunology University of Wisconsin-Madison
EPIDERMOPHYTON SPECIES
E.floccosum
Image kindly supplied byTom Volk
University ofW isconsin-La Crosse
Tom Volks Fungi
Organisms are often classified according to their preferred hosts.
G -geophilic - prefers to live in soil
A- anthropophilic - humans
Z - zoophilic - animals.
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