JAMUR PENYEBAB TINEA KAPITIS ( KULIT KEPALA )

Trichophyton violaceum

Culture of Trichophyton violaceum

Trichophyton violaceum an anthropophilic species of fungi that causes black-dot ringworm or

favus infection of the scalp; hair infection is of the endothrix type; usually found in South
America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Trichophyton violaceum causative organism of endonyx
onychomycosis (rare fungal nail condition); characterized by nail plate diffuse opacity without
onycholysis/subungual hyperkeratosis
 Trichopyton mentagrophytes
Ecology: T.mentagrophytes is recognized as
having two variants. Anthropophilic isolates
prefer man to animals while the zoophilic
isolates primarily infect animals. Small
rodents appear to be the primary reservoir for
the animal variety. Trichophyton
mentagrophytes is a cosmopolitan fungus
(found everywhere).
Macroscopic Morphology: T.mentagrophytes
exhibits moderately rapid growth and matures
within 6 – 10 days. Sources have previously
described anthropophilic isolates having a
downy, powdery or even fluffy texture while
zoophilic isolated were more granular in
appearance. Colonies may vary in colour from
white to cream or yellowish. The reverse also
can vary from yellow to reddish brown to
brown or ochre, depending on isolate and
medium.
Macroscopic morphology
Microscopic Morphology: Trichophyton
mentagrophytes produces septate hyphae
from which branched conidiophores extend.
Sessile (not on stalk) microconidia are
produced in rather dense, grape-like clusters
on the conidiophores. The microconidia
(~2µm to 4µm) are spherical to pyriform in
shape. Macroconidia (20-50µm to 6-8µm) are
cigar to club shaped and may show exhibit
some distortion. Macroconidia have a smooth
exterior and are thin walled, usually have
between 3 to 8 cells dividing the interior.
Macroconidia may be found more readily in
younger cultures. Production of both micro &
macro conidia may vary with the isolate.
Coiled or spiral hyphae may be present and in
some strains, structures described as nodular
bodies or chlamydospores may be present.
Microscopic morphology T. .mentagrophytes
 Trichophyton tonsurans

Macroscopic Morphology T.tonsurans

Macroscopic Morphology: T.tonserans may have highly variable colony morphology. Surface
growth may be white, beige, greyish or pale to sulphurous yellow, rose coloured to brownish.
The surface texture also can vary from velvety or powdery to suede-like, often with radial or
concentric furrows

Microscopic Morphology T.tonsurans

Microscopic Morphology: T.tonsurans produces septate hyphae. The most prominent

feature is the numerous microconidia formed along the hyphae or on short conidiophores
which grow perpendicular to the originated hyphae. The microconidia are sessile (attached
by a ‘base’ rather than a ‘stalk’). They can also be highly variable is shape ranging from
pyriform (tear-drop) to clavate (club-like) to cylindrical and even larger round balloon-like
forms. Macroconidia are usually rare and also show variation in shape & size from cylindrical
to cigar shaped (10 – 65 µm by 4 – 12 µm). They are somewhat thick walled with a smooth
surface and usually contain between 2 to 4 cells within each. Terminal and intercalary
chlamydospores may also be present, particularly in older cultures.

Jamur Penyebab Tinea Kapitis

 Microsporum audoinii

Ecology: Microsporum audouinii is a cosmopolitan anthropophilic dermatophyte which is

spread person to person. Now rarely seen in North America or Europe however it remains
the most common cause of human ringworm, primarily tinea capitis (scalp infection) on the
African continent. Travelers and migrant workers may bring this infection from endemic
areas. M.audouinii infection is more prevalent in prepubescent children. Hairs will fluoresce
under a ultra-violet Wood’s Lamp.

M.audounii on SAB (SDA) incubated at 30ᵒC for 14 days

Microscopic Morphology: Hyphae are

septate and often show pectinate (comb-
like) and racquet cells (See photo). Both
intercalary (in the middle of a hyphae)
and terminal (at the end of a hyphae)
chlamydospores may be present.
Terminal chlamydospores may have a
small point or peak at their apical end.
Sources report that microconidia and
macroconidia are rare. Microconidia are
ovoidal to clavate (club shaped).
Macroconidia can be elongated or spindle
shaped and may be irregular or distorted
in their shape. They may also show a
slight constriction along their length often
closer to the center. The macroconidia
are thick-walled, variable in size (30-80
µm X 8-14 µm) and number of internal
cells. They are usually echinulate (small
spiny like projections on surface) to some
degree.

Jamur Penyebab Tinea Kapitis

 Microsporum canis

Pathogenicity

Microsporum canis is a cosmopolitan zoophilic dermatophyte usually acquired from infected

dogs (hence canis) or cats. Most prevalent in children, it has been implicated in infections of
the scalp and skin and occasionally nails. A scalp infection could be visualized by examining
plucked hairs under a Wood’s (UV/black light) lamp for fluorescence.

Colony Morphology

Surface growth has been described as downy to woolly, to fluffy, hairy and silky. Typically it
exhibits a light yellowish pigment at the periphery and growth shows closely spaced radial
grooves. The reverse is pale tan to yellowish (yellowish-orange –media dependent) which
tends to turn brownish as it ages.

Microsporum canis on SAB at 5 days at 30oC

Microscopic Morphology

Microsporum canis has septate hyphae that produce numerous macroconidia. The
macroconidia are rather long (10-25 X 35-110 µm), spindle or fusoid in shape and are thick
walled with a echinulte (rough) texture. The ends typically taper to a knob-like end that may
be somewhat recurved at the apex. The macroconidia usually have six or more
compartments when mature and few smooth walled club shaped macroconidia may be
observed along the hyphae. Smooth walled, club shaped microconidia are infrequently seen
forming along the length of the hyphae.

Jamur Penyebab Tinea Kapitis

 Microsporum canis (LPCB X100) Microsporum canis (LPCB X250)

Microsporum canis - 10% KOH* preparation (X400)

Microsporum canis needs no special growth factors or cultural requirements. I found that on
the relatively nutritious Sabouraud Dextose agar, my isolate became sterile on repeated
subcultures. Macroconida were produce when grown on Corn meal agar. The macroconidia
are produced as a survival mechanism and are induced when conditions are not as rich or
favourable for growth. Microsporum canis can be inoculated onto sterile (autoclaved)
polished rice grains where they produce a yellow pigment. A hair perforation test (positive)
can be performed in vitro. As previously stated, hairs infected with Microsporum canis will
fluoresce under a Wood’s UV lamp.

Jamur Penyebab Tinea Kapitis

 Microsporum ferrugineum

Microsporum ferrugineum is an anthropophilic fungus causing epidemic juvenile tinea

capitis in humans. The clinical features are similar to those of infections caused by M.
audouinii. Invaded hairs show an ectothrix infection and fluoresce a greenish-yellow
under Wood’s ultra-violet light. Reported from Asia (including China and Japan),

Morphological
Colonies are slow growing, forming a waxy, glabrous, convoluted thallus with a cream
to buff-coloured surface and no reverse pigmentCultures rapidly become downy and
pleomorphic. Microscopic morphology is negative, microconidia or macroconidia are
not produced. However, irregular branching hyphae with prominent cross walls
(“bamboo hyphae”) and chlamydospores are seen. “Bamboo hyphae” are a
characteristic of this species.

Macroscopic Morphology Microsporum ferrugineum

Microscopic Morphology Microsporum ferrugineum

Jamur Penyebab Tinea Kapitis