Epidermophyton floccosum

History
This section has been translated automatically.

Langeron and Milochevitch, 1930

Anthropophilic dermatophyte. Transmission through contaminated laundry, skin contact and intimate intercourse.

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Dermatology

Usually at first unilateral, later bilateral localized tinea of the hands.

Worldwide spread. Share of dermatophytes in Central Europe approx. 3-5%. Men are affected to 80-90%.

Predilection sites: inguinal area, toe area with or without nail infestation.

Infection restricted to the stratum corneum. Invasive growth only if immune function is impaired. S.u. tinea; especially tinea corporis, tinea manuum, tinea pedum, tinea inguinalis. Nail and hair follicle infestation possible; never hair infestation. After infection of the interdigital spaces between the toes, picture of Tinea intertriginosa.

Septed, hyaline, strongly branched hyphae with bulb-like ends.
Chlamydospores: Often terminal and intercalated, size: 10-20 μm Ø.
No microconidia.
Macroconidia: Numerous, club- or flail-shaped, smooth-walled, thin-walled, lateral or terminal on the hyphae, solitary or grouped, 2-10 chambers (size: 10-40 μm).

Degreef JH et al (1994) Current therapy of dermatophytosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 31: S25-S30
de Hoog GS et al (2000) Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd ed, vol. 1 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Langeron M, Milochevitch S (1930) Morphology of the dermatophyte. Ann Parasitol hum comp 8: 465-508
Seddon ME et al (1997) Invasive disease due to Epidermophyton floccosum in an immunocompromised patient with Behçet's syndrome. Clin Infect Dis 25: 153-154