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Dermatophytosis

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Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

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Abstract

Dermatophytosis (tinea or ringworm) is a superficial infection or colonization of the keratinized tissue of humans and lower animals (e.g., skin, hair, nails, fur) caused by a group of closely related keratinophilic fungi collectively termed dermatophytes. These fungi belong to three anamorphic (imperfect or asexual) genera, Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton, phylum Deuteromycota, those capable of reproducing sexually are classified in the teleomorphic genus Arthroderma (Weitzman et al., 1986) of the Ascomycota.

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Authors
  1. Irene Weitzman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 30333, Atlanta, GA, USA

    A. Balows

  2. Hygienic Laboratory, Oakdale Hall, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IA, USA

    W. J. Hausler Jr.

  3. Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, 160, Tokyo, Japan

    M. Ohashi

  4. Istituto di Microbilogia dell ’Universitá, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy

    A. Turano

  5. Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Health Services, and California Public Foundation, 94704, Berkeley, CA, USA

    E. H. Lennete (Emeritus Director) (Emeritus Director)

  6. Institut Virion, CH-8803, Ruschlikon/Zurich, Switzerland

    E. H. Lennete (Emeritus Director) (Emeritus Director)

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Weitzman, I. (1988). Dermatophytosis. In: Balows, A., Hausler, W.J., Ohashi, M., Turano, A., Lennete, E.H. (eds) Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3898-0_64

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