Information about Dermatophytes
A dermatophyte is a parasitic fungus that infects the skin. The term embraces the imperfect fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton.
Dermatophytes (name based on the Greek for 'skin plants') are a common label for a group of three types of fungus that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. These anamorphic (asexual or imperfect) genera are: Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. There are about 40 species in these three genera. Species capable of reproducing sexually belong in the teleomorphic genus, Arthroderma, of the Ascomycota. (See Teleomorph, anamorph and holomorph for more information on this type of fungal life cycle).
Dermatophytes cause infections of the skin, hair and nails due to their ability to obtain nutrients from keratinized material. The organisms colonize the keratin tissues and inflammation is caused by host response to metabolic by-products. They are usually restricted to the nonliving cornified layer of the epidermis because of their inability to penetrate viable tissue of an immunocompetent host. Invasion does elicit a host response ranging from mild to severe. Acid proteinases, elastase, keratinases, and other proteinases reportedly act as virulence factors. The development of cell-mediated immunity correlated with delayed hypersensitivity and an inflammatory response is associated with clinical cure, whereas the lack of or a defective cell-mediated immunity predisposes the host to chronic or recurrent dermatophyte infection.
Some of these infections are known as ringworm or tinea. Toe- and fingernail infection are referred to as onychomycosis. Dermatophytes usually do not invade living tissues, but colonize the outer layer of the skin. Occasionally the organisms do invade subcutaneous tissues, resulting in kerion development.
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Dermatophytes (name based on the Greek for 'skin plants') are a common label for a group of three types of fungus that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. These anamorphic (asexual or imperfect) genera are: Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. There are about 40 species in these three genera. Species capable of reproducing sexually belong in the teleomorphic genus, Arthroderma, of the Ascomycota. (See Teleomorph, anamorph and holomorph for more information on this type of fungal life cycle).
Dermatophytes cause infections of the skin, hair and nails due to their ability to obtain nutrients from keratinized material. The organisms colonize the keratin tissues and inflammation is caused by host response to metabolic by-products. They are usually restricted to the nonliving cornified layer of the epidermis because of their inability to penetrate viable tissue of an immunocompetent host. Invasion does elicit a host response ranging from mild to severe. Acid proteinases, elastase, keratinases, and other proteinases reportedly act as virulence factors. The development of cell-mediated immunity correlated with delayed hypersensitivity and an inflammatory response is associated with clinical cure, whereas the lack of or a defective cell-mediated immunity predisposes the host to chronic or recurrent dermatophyte infection.
Some of these infections are known as ringworm or tinea. Toe- and fingernail infection are referred to as onychomycosis. Dermatophytes usually do not invade living tissues, but colonize the outer layer of the skin. Occasionally the organisms do invade subcutaneous tissues, resulting in kerion development.
Identification
Microscopic morphology of the micro and macroconidia is the most reliable identification character, but a good slide preparation is needed, and also needed is the stimulation of sporulation in some strains. Culture characteristics such as surface texture, topography and pigmentation are variable so they are the least reliable criteria for identification. Clinical information such as the appearance of the lesion, site, geographic location, travel history, animal contacts and race is also important, especially in identifying rare non-sporulating species like Trichophyton concentricum, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton schoenleinii.Transmission
Dermatophytes are transmitted by direct contact with infected host (human or animal) or by direct or indirect contact with infected exfoliated skin or hair in clothing, combs, hair brushes, theatre seats, caps, furniture, bed linens, towels, hotel rugs, and locker room floors. Depending on the species the organism may be viable in the environment for up to 15 months. There is an increased susceptibility to infection when there is a preexisting injury to the skin such as scars, burns, excessive temperature and humidity. Adaptation to growth on humans by most geophilic species resulted in diminished loss of sporulation, sexuality, and other soil-associated characteristics.Classification
Dermatophytes are classified as anthropophilic (humans), zoophilic (animals) or geophilic (soil) according to their normal habitat.- Anthropophilic dermatophytes are restricted to human hosts and produce a mild, chronic inflammation.
- Zoophilic organisms are found primarily in animals and cause marked inflammatory reactions in humans who have contact with infected cats, dogs, cattle, horses, birds, or other animals. This is followed by a rapid termination of the infection.
- Geophilic species are usually recovered from the soil but occasionally infect humans and animals. They cause a marked inflammatory reaction, which limits the spread of the infection and may lead to a spontaneous cure but may also leave scars.
Classification
- About 58% of the dermatophyte species isolated are Trichophyton rubrum
- 27% are T. mentagrophytes
- 7% are T. verrucosum
- 3% are T. tonsurans
- Infrequently isolated (less than 1%) are Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum audouinii, M. canis, M. equinum, M. nanum, M. versicolor, Trichophyton equinum, T. kanei, T. raubitschekii, and T. violaceum.
Medications
See also
- National Center for Mycology
External links
- Images and descriptions of dermatophytes
- World of dermatophytes: A pictorial
- Biology of Dermatophytes and other Keratinophilic Fungi - RKS Kushwaha & J Guarro. Rev Iberoam Micol, 2000.
Deuteromycota (Greek for "second fungi") were once considered a formal phylum of the kingdom Fungi. The term is now used only informally, to denote species of fungi that are asexually reproducing members of the fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.
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Epidermophyton
Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses, including E. floccosum, a cause of tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and onychomycosis or
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Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses, including E. floccosum, a cause of tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and onychomycosis or
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Microsporum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Trichophyton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Microsporum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Epidermophyton
Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses, including E. floccosum, a cause of tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and onychomycosis or
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Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses, including E. floccosum, a cause of tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and onychomycosis or
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Trichophyton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Onygenales
Family:
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genus (plural: genera) is part of the Latinized name for an organism. It is a name which reflects the classification of the organism by grouping it with other closely similar organisms.
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The terms teleomorph, anamorph, and holomorph apply to portions of the life cycles of fungi in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.
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- Teleomorph: the sexual reproductive stage (morph), typically a fruiting body.
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Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble, they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals. They are rivaled as biological materials in toughness only by chitin.
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Epidermis may refer to:
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- Epidermis (botany), in plants, the outermost layer of cells covering the leaves and young parts of a plant
- Epidermis (skin), in vertebrates, the outermost layer of the skin
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elastase is an enzyme from the class of proteases (or better peptidases) that break down proteins.
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Forms and classification
There exist two human genes for elastase:- Pancreatic elastase (ELA-1)
- Neutrophil elastase (ELA-2)
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For the album by Only Crime, see Virulence (album)
Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of a microbe, or in other words the relative ability of a microbe to cause disease...... Click the link for more information.
MeSH D014005 Ringworm, also known as "Tinea", is a contagious fungal infection of the skin, and can exist anywhere on the body. Contrary to its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but generally is a reddish to brownish raised or bumpy patch of skin that may be lighter in
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MeSH D014005 Ringworm, also known as "Tinea", is a contagious fungal infection of the skin, and can exist anywhere on the body. Contrary to its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but generally is a reddish to brownish raised or bumpy patch of skin that may be lighter in
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Onychomycosis
Classification & external resources
A toenail affected by Onychomycosis
ICD-10 B 35.1
ICD-9 110.1
DiseasesDB 13125
MedlinePlus 001330
eMedicine derm/300
MeSH D014009 Onychomycosis
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Classification & external resources
A toenail affected by Onychomycosis
ICD-10 B 35.1
ICD-9 110.1
DiseasesDB 13125
MedlinePlus 001330
eMedicine derm/300
MeSH D014009 Onychomycosis
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subcutis is the layer of tissue directly underlying the cutis. It is mainly composed of adipose tissue. Its physiological function includes insulation and storage of nutrients.
Subcutaneous injections are given by injecting a fluid or a solid pellet into the subcutis.
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Subcutaneous injections are given by injecting a fluid or a solid pellet into the subcutis.
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Kerion is the result of the host's response to a fungal ringworm infection of the hair follicles of the scalp and beard accompanied by secondary bacterial infection(s). It usually presents itself as raised, pus-filled and spongy lesions.
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The term morphology in biology refers to the outward appearance (shape, structure, color, pattern) of an organism or taxon and its component parts. This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function.
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spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersion and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, fungi and some protozoans.
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strain is used in three related ways.
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Microbiology/Virology
A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a virus or bacterium. For example, a "flu strain" is a certain biological form of the influenza or "flu" virus. Compare clade...... Click the link for more information.
Topography (Greek topos, "place", and graphia, "writing") is the study of Earth's surface features or those of planets, moons, and asteroids.
In a broader sense, topography is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief but also
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In a broader sense, topography is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief but also
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pigment is a material that changes the color of light it reflects as the result of selective color absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which the material itself emits light.
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Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin (or other tissue) after injury. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process.
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Zoophilic means liking or preferring animals.
Zoophilic organisms are found primarily in animals and cause marked inflammatory reactions in humans who have contact with infected cats, dogs, cattle, horses, birds, or other animals.
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Zoophilic organisms are found primarily in animals and cause marked inflammatory reactions in humans who have contact with infected cats, dogs, cattle, horses, birds, or other animals.
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Geophillic means soil loving or preferring the soil. Geophilic organisms are usually recovered from the soil but occasionally infect humans and animals. They cause a marked inflammatory reaction, which limits the spread of the infection and may lead to a spontaneous cure but may
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T. rubrum
Binomial name
Trichophyton rubrum
Trichophyton rubrum is a fungus that is the most common cause of athlete's foot , jock itch and ringworm.
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Binomial name
Trichophyton rubrum
Trichophyton rubrum is a fungus that is the most common cause of athlete's foot , jock itch and ringworm.
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Terbinafine hydrochloride (Lamisil in UK, US, France, Canada, Romania and Hungary, also sold under the name Terbisil) is a synthetic allylamine antifungal. It is highly lipophilic in nature and tends to accumulate in skin, nails, and fatty tissues.
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Tea tree oil or melaleuca oil is a clear to very pale golden color essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia.
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