''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
A conidium ( ; ), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (), is an asexual, non-motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are also called mitospores due to th ...
.
Macroconidia
A conidium ( ; ), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (), is an Asexual reproduction, asexual, non-motility, motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are al ...
are mostly borne laterally directly on the hyphae or on short pedicels, and are thin- or thick-walled,
clavate to
fusiform
Fusiform means having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. It is similar to the lemon-shape, but often implies a focal broadening of a structure that continues from one or both ends, such as an aneurysm on a b ...
, and range from 4 to 8 by 8 to 50
μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
in size. Macroconidia are few or absent in many species. Microconidia are spherical, pyriform to clavate or of irregular shape, and range from 2 to 3 by 2 to 4 μm in size.
Species and their habitat preference
According to current classification, the genus includes anthropophilic and zoophilic species.
[ Anthropophilic fungi prefer to infect humans. Zoophilic fungi prefer to infect animals other than humans. Humans and animals are natural reservoirs for parasitic or dermatophytic fungi.
Other accepted species;
* '']