The fungus genus Trichophyton is characterized by the
development of both smooth-walled macro- and microconidia.
Macroconidia are mostly borne laterally directly on the hyphae
or on short pedicels, and are thin- or thick-walled, clavate to
fusiform, and range from 4 to 8 by 8 to 50 μm in size.
Macroconidia are few or absent in many species. Microconidia are
spherical, pyriform to clavate or of irregular shape, and range
from 2 to 3 by 2 to 4 μm in size. Trichophyton species are the
most common cause of athlete's foot (tinea pedis). Effect on
humans  Known as "Malabar itch", a skin infection consisting of
an eruption of a number of concentric rings of overlapping
scales forming papulosquamous patches is caused by the fungus.
It also causes athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, and similar
infections of the nail, beard, skin and scalp. Species and their
natural reservoirs  |Trichophyton equinum||zoophilic (horse)|
|Trichophyton flavescens||geophilic (feathers)| |Trichophyton
mentagrophytes var. erinacei||zoophil