Which of the following is a dimorphic fungus?: (A) Rhizopus, (B) Sporothrix schenckii, (C) Tinea versicolor, (D) Microsporum
Answer is B. Ref: Ananthnarayan R. Paniker CKJ. Textbook of Microbiology. 8th Edition. Hyderabad: Universities Press: 2009. Pg. 601-15.Explanation:Dimorphic fungi can occur as filaments or as yeasts, depending on the conditions of growth.In host tissues or cultures at 37degC they occur as yeasts, while in the soil and in cultures at 22 degC they appear as moulds.Most fungi causing systemic infections are dimorphic fungi.List of dimorphic fungiSystemic dimorphic fungiHistoplasma capsulationBlastomyces dermatitidisCoccidiodes immitisParacoccidiodes brasiliensisSubcutaneous dimorphic fungus - Sporothrix schenc kiiOpportunistic fungus - Penicillium marneffei