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DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

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Descriptions of Medical Fungi 129<br />

Microsporum ferrugineum Ota<br />

Microsporum ferrugineum is an anthropophilic fungus causing epidemic juvenile tinea<br />

capitis in humans. The clinical features are similar to those of infections caused by M.<br />

audouinii. Invaded hairs show an ectothrix infection and fluoresce a greenish-yellow<br />

under Wood’s ultra-violet light. Reported from Asia (including China and Japan),<br />

Russia, Eastern Europe and Africa.<br />

RG-2 organism.<br />

Morphological Description: Colonies are slow growing, forming a waxy, glabrous,<br />

convoluted thallus with a cream to buff-coloured surface and no reverse pigment.<br />

Note: Surface pigmentation may vary from cream to yellow to deep red and a flatter<br />

white form sometimes occurs. Cultures rapidly become downy and pleomorphic.<br />

Microscopic morphology is negative, microconidia or macroconidia are not produced.<br />

However, irregular branching hyphae with prominent cross walls (“bamboo hyphae”)<br />

and chlamydospores are seen. “Bamboo hyphae” are a characteristic of this species.<br />

Key Features: Clinical history, culture characteristics and distinctive “bamboo hyphae”.<br />

a<br />

b<br />

20 µm<br />

Microsporum ferrugineum (a) culture and (b) “bamboo hyphae”.

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