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Trichophyton rubrum is a dermatophytic fungus in the phylum Ascomycota. It is an exclusively clonal, [ 2 ] anthropophilic saprotroph that colonizes the upper layers of dead skin, and is the most common cause of athlete's foot , fungal infection of nail, jock itch , and ringworm worldwide. [ 3 ]
Trichophyton is a genus of fungi, which includes the parasitic varieties that cause tinea, including athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, and similar infections of the nail, beard, skin and scalp. Trichophyton fungi are molds characterized by the development of both smooth-walled macro- and microconidia .
[8] Infection may become chronic and widespread if the host has a compromised immune system and is receiving treatment that reduces T-lymphocyte function. [8] Also, the responsible species for chronic infections in both normal and immunocompromised patients tends to be Trichophyton rubrum; immune response tends to be hyporeactive. [8]
Athlete's foot is most commonly caused by the molds known as Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, [22] but may also be caused by Epidermophyton floccosum. [23] [24] Most cases of athlete's foot in the general population are caused by T. rubrum; however, the majority of athlete's foot cases in athletes are caused by T. mentagrophytes. [13]
Sporothrix schenckii, a fungus that can be found worldwide in the environment, is named for medical student Benjamin Schenck, who in 1896 was the first to isolate it from a human specimen. [1]
A 2002 study looking at 445 samples of dermatophytes in patients in Goiânia, Brazil found the most prevalent type to be Trichophyton rubrum (49.4%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (30.8%), and Microsporum canis (12.6%). [36]
Superficial scrapes of skin examined underneath a microscope may reveal the presence of a fungus.This is done by utilizing a diagnostic method called KOH test, [6] wherein the skin scrapings are placed on a slide and immersed on a dropful of potassium hydroxide solution to dissolve the keratin on the skin scrappings thus leaving fungal elements such as hyphae, septate or yeast cells viewable.
Tinea manuum is a fungal infection of the hand, mostly a type of dermatophytosis, often part of two feet-one hand syndrome. [2] [4] There is diffuse scaling on the palms or back of usually one hand and the palmer creases appear more prominent. [2]