Dermatophytes: Difference between revisions

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== Background ==
== Species and Classification ==
 
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=== Microbiology ===
* Three common genii: ''Epidermophyton'', ''Microsporum'', and ''Trichophyton''
 
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* Dermatophytes are molds that cause superficial skin, hair, and nail infections
* Three categories: anthropophilic, zoophilic, and geophilic
 
 
* The four most common genera ''[[Epidermophyton]]'', ''[[Microsporum]]'', ''[[Trichophyton]]'', and ''[[Nannizzia]]''
 
* Fungi may be anthropophilic, zoophilic, or geophilic (soil origin)
   
== Presentation ==
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=== Epidemiology ===
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* Risk depends on the specific mold and its natural environment (humans, animals, or soil)
* Clinical presentation is usually as '''ringworm'''
 
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=== Anthropophilic dermatophytes ===
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* Most common worldwide is ''[[Trichophyton rubrum]]''
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* Others include ''[[Trichophyton concentricum]]'', ''[[Trichophyton interdigitale]]'', ''[[Trichophyton schoenleinii]]'', ''[[Trichophyton soudanense]]'', ''[[Trichophyton tonsurans]]'', ''[[Trichophyton violaceum]]'', ''[[Microsporum audouinii]]'', ''[[Microsporum ferrugineum]]'', and ''[[Epidermophyton floccosum]]''
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* Risk factors include areas where people share common facilities, such as military camps and factories
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=== Zoonotic dermatophytes ===
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* Of zoonotic dermatophytes, ''[[Microsporum canis]]'' is the most common worldwide
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* Other zoonotic dermatophytes include ''[[Trichophyton benhamiae]]'' (guinea pigs), ''[[Trichophyton erinacei]]'' (hedgehogs), ''[[Trichophyton quinum]]'' (horses), ''[[Trichophyton mentagrophytes]]'' (rodents), ''[[Trichophyton quinckeanum]]'' (mice), ''[[Trichophyton simii]]'' (monkeys), ''[[Trichophyton verrucosum]]'' (cattle ringworm), ''[[Nannizzia nana]]'' (pigs), and ''[[Nannizzia persicolor]]'' (bank voles)
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=== Geophilic ===
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* Uncommon causes of disease
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* ''[[Nannizzia gypseum]]'' is more common in western Pacific and Central America
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* More common in gardeners and farmers
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== Clinical Presentation ==
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* '''Ringworm'''
 
** Most active form is in the periphery of the ring
 
** Most active form is in the periphery of the ring
 
** Can invade immunocompromised patients, e.g. Majocchi's granuloma and kerion
 
** Can invade immunocompromised patients, e.g. Majocchi's granuloma and kerion

Revision as of 20:22, 26 May 2020

Background

Microbiology

  • Dermatophytes are molds that cause superficial skin, hair, and nail infections
  • The four most common genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Nannizzia
  • Fungi may be anthropophilic, zoophilic, or geophilic (soil origin)

Epidemiology

  • Risk depends on the specific mold and its natural environment (humans, animals, or soil)

Anthropophilic dermatophytes

Zoonotic dermatophytes

Geophilic

  • Uncommon causes of disease
  • Nannizzia gypseum is more common in western Pacific and Central America
  • More common in gardeners and farmers

Clinical Presentation

  • Ringworm
    • Most active form is in the periphery of the ring
    • Can invade immunocompromised patients, e.g. Majocchi's granuloma and kerion
  • Named by anatomic location
    • Tinea capitis: head
    • Tinea corporis: body
    • Tinea cruris: groin
    • Tinea unguun: nails

Diagnosis

Specimen collection

  • Hair: need the root, with sterile forceps
  • Skin: disinfect with alcohol or sterile water, then scrape the border with a blunt scalpel
  • Nails: alcohol gauze to clean, then scrape subungual debris

Laboratory Testing

  • Direct microscopy: KOH (potassium hydroxide) calcofluor of skin scraping, under UV light
  • Culture with Littman agar w streptomycin, Sabouraud agar with chloram+gent, Sabouraud agar with CG+cyclohexamide
    • Incubate for 2-3 weeks at 30ºC

Indentification

  • Chemical properties
    • Growth at 37ºC
    • Urease production/urea hydrolysis
    • BCP-MSG reaction (important)
    • Hair perforation test
    • Vitamin requirements with trichophyton agars T1 to T7
    • Growth on polished rice grain
  • Colony features
    • Speed of growth
    • Colour on surface
    • Texture
    • Colour on reverse
  • Microscopic features
    • Macroconidia, microconidia, septae