Epidermophyton floccosum produces smooth, club-shaped macroconidia with rounded ends that are arranged singly or in clusters. Each contains 2-6 cells, separated by transverse septae. Note: Microconidia are never produced.
The top image to the right shows an E. floccosum culture demonstrating colonies that are slow-growing, greenish-brown, or khaki-colored with a suede-like surface. The bottom right image shows an E. floccosum lactophenol cotton blue slide demonstrating septate hyphae, and smooth, thin-walled, club-shaped, multicellular macroconidia.
30. CDC/Georg. Image #14590. This Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plate had been inoculated with the fungus, Epidermophyton floccosum, and after having undergone an undisclosed incubation period, gave rise to this single, large colony. On SDA, E. floccosum colonies are slow-growing, greenish-brown, or khaki-colored, and exhibit a suede-like surface. E. floccosum is one of the common causes of dermatophytosis and can infect the skin and nails. PHIL public domain. Created 1968. Accessed January 14, 2023. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=14590 31. CDC/Ajello. Image #4207. This photomicrograph reveals some of the ultrastructural details exhibited by the dermatophytic fungal organism, Epidermophyton floccosum, including the organism’s septate hyphae, and smooth, thin-walled, club-shaped, multicellular macroconidia. E. floccosum is known to be a cause of dermatophytosis, leading to tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), and onychomycosis or tinea unguium, a fungal infection of the nail bed. PHIL public domain. Created 1972. Accessed January 14, 2023. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=4207
