Phonetic: Trick-oh-phy-ton

Trichophyton includes about 22 species, 11 of which are the principle causative agents of animal and human dermatophytoses (athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, and scalp, beard, and nail infections). It is often found on soils, leather, feathers, river sediments, and as a skin parasite. Trichophyton includes anthropophilic (human pathogen), zoophilic (animal pathogen), and geophilic (soil pathogen) species, some are cosmopolitan, while others have a limited geographic distribution. Conidia are 1-celled, smooth, thin-walled, hyaline, ovoid (egg shaped), solitary or in grape-like clusters. The colonies are fairly slow to rapid growing, waxy to cottony, and white, yellowish, beige, or red violet in color. Culture – Sabauroud’s dextrose agar, Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° – 25°C, 7 – 10 days.