Abstract

MORENO-COUTINO, Gabriela; PALOMARES, María de la Paz; FERNANDEZ-MARTINEZ, Ramón  and  ARENAS, Roberto. Morphologic characteristics of 45 Microsporum canis strains. Rev. Mex. Mic [online]. 2009, vol.29, pp. 31-35. ISSN 0187-3180.

Dermatophytes are pathogen fungi of skin and its appendages. One of them, Microsporum spp. has micro and macroscopic characteristics mainly based on the shape and size of macrocon id ia and echinulations that allow the identification of the species. The macro and micromorphological characteristics of 45 M. canis strains were analized with the intention of classifying them into subspecies. All samples had a previous positive direct exam with KOH and were cultured in both Sabouraud dextrose agar with antibiotic and rice media. Thirty five percent grew by the second week. A white velvety colony with a yellowish color on the reversal side was the usual phenotype. Fifteen percent of cultures on rice media were negative. The typical M. canis morphology was seen in 81.1% and macroconidia had an average of 9.08 septa. Sixteen cases had a mixed morphology. Microsporum canis strains are easily identified in most cases, however, in atypical specimens, M. audouinii should be ruled out.

Keywords : dermatophytes; Microsporum audouinii.