Mentagrophytes - Çukurova Üniversitesi

sorbitol assimilation, salt tolerance, growth in 1 to 7 set of Trichophyton agars
were evaluated. Additionally, the presence of macro- and micro- conidia were
investigated by inoculation into brain-heart infusion agar (BHIA), malt extract
agar (MEA), Lowenstein-Jensen agar (LJ), potatoe dextrose agar (PDA), oat-meal
agar (OA), cornmeal dextrose agar (CMDA), Oxoid chromogenic Candida agar
(OCCA), Christensen urea agar and Trichophyton agars 1 to 7, and by
confronting their performance at days 5, 10 and 15.
It was found that urease reaction had provided more rapid and more
powerful identification at the level of species when urea media prepared in Petri
dishes had been used. Hair perfororation test resulted useful in the differentiation
of the two complexes only in the first ten days. Macroconidia production was more
prevalent in BHIA and LJ media (P < 0.05). Tween opacity, sorbitol assimilation
and salt tolerance tests provided no clue. Additionally, T.rubrum complex
produced red pigments in CMDA and BCPMSG, while T. mentagrophytes complex
produced none. For example, T. raubitschekii was differentiated from T. rubrum
complex by being urease positive, producing red pigments around colonies in
BCPMSG, later shifting pH towards alcaline, being unable to perforate hair,
producing opaque zone around colonies in Tween opacity test in three days,
presenting abundant macro- and micro- conidia in culture. It was also
differentiated from T. mentagrophytes complex by producing red pigments in
CMDA.
It can be concluded that by using over-cited tests in the context of an
algorithm T. rubrum complex could be differentiated from T. mentagrophytes
complex, in addition to the identification of micro-organisms pertaining to both
complexes at the level of species.
Key words: T. rubrum complex, Trichophyon mentagrophytes complex,
laboratory diagnosis
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