Epidermophyton Mold SpeciesEpidermophyton species is a causative agent of Dermatophytosis and several Tinea skin infections such as Tinea pedis (Athlete's foot), Tinea cruris (Jock itch), Tinea corporis, and Tinea manuum. (Information from www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)
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| Taxonomic Classifications
Kingdom:
Fungi
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Ecology Epidermophyton is a cosmopolitan dermatophyte, filamentous fungus. Epidermophyton floccosum is the only species considered as pathogenic as its primary host is human thus, it is also known as anthropophilic. Soil is the natural habitat of the related but the non - pathogenic species Epidermophyton stockdaleae.
Species The genus Epidermophyton contains two species only, namely: Epidermophyton floccosum and Epidermophyton stockdaleae. Epidermophyton stockdaleae is known to be non - pathogenic, leaving Epidermophyton floccosum as the only anthropophilic species causing infections in humans.
Pathogenicity and Health Effects Epidermophyton floccosum is one of the causative agents of cutaneous infections, dermatophytosis, in healthy individuals which particularly infects the skin. Skin infections include the body surface (tinea corporis), groin (tinea cruris), feet (tinea pedis) and nails (onychomycosis). The fungus lacks the ability to penetrate the viable tissue of the immunocompetent host thus, the infection is only restricted to the non – living cornified layers of epidermis. However, infection due to invasive Epidermophyton floccosum has been reported in an immunocompromised patient with Behcet’s syndrome. Furthermore, Epidermophyton floccosum infections are communicable and can be transmitted by contact, particularly in common showers and gym facilities.
Macroscopic Appearance Ø Growth rate is moderately rapid and colonies mature within 10 days; Ø Colonies’ texture is flat, initially grainy and becoming radially grooved, felty and velvety by maturation and quickly become downy and sterile; and Ø Surface colony color is brownish yellow to olive gray or khaki and while orange to brown on the reverse with an occasional yellow border.
Microscopic Appearance Ø Hyaline septate hyphae, macroconidia, and occasionally, chlamydoconidium – like cells are present while microconidia are typically absent; Ø Macroconidia are club – shaped with thin, smooth walls, three to five – celled, with size of 10 to 40 x 6 to 12 µm, and may be solitary or in groups; and Ø Chlamydoconidium – like cells and arthroconidia are formed in mature cultures.
Laboratory Precautions Only general laboratory precautions are required, no special safety measures needed.
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The mycological information gathered
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