Which dermatophyte is recovered from hair and skin and commonly causes tinea corporis and capitis?

Which dermatophyte is recovered from hair and skin and commonly causes tinea corporis and capitis?

• A. Trichophyton rubrum
• B. Microsporum gypseum
• C. Epidermophyton floccosum
• D. Malassezia furfur

Answer: (B)

The question tests which dermatophyte species is typically recovered from hair and skin and linked to infections of the scalp and body. Microsporum gypseum is a dermatophyte commonly found in hair and skin specimens and is classically associated with tinea capitis (scalp) and tinea corporis (body). It’s a geophilic organism that often presents with infections involving keratinized tissues, including hair. In contrast, Trichophyton rubrum is a very common cause of tinea corporis and onychomycosis but is less often associated with hair involvement; Epidermophyton floccosum mainly causes tinea cruris and corporis without hair infection; Malassezia furfur is a yeast, not a dermatophyte, and causes pityriasis versicolor rather than tinea capitis or corporis.

The question tests which dermatophyte species is typically recovered from hair and skin and linked to infections of the scalp and body. Microsporum gypseum is a dermatophyte commonly found in hair and skin specimens and is classically associated with tinea capitis (scalp) and tinea corporis (body). It’s a geophilic organism that often presents with infections involving keratinized tissues, including hair.

In contrast, Trichophyton rubrum is a very common cause of tinea corporis and onychomycosis but is less often associated with hair involvement; Epidermophyton floccosum mainly causes tinea cruris and corporis without hair infection; Malassezia furfur is a yeast, not a dermatophyte, and causes pityriasis versicolor rather than tinea capitis or corporis.