Infection<unk>  causes superficial diseases such as tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and tinea cruris, and less commonly tinea corporis and onychomycosis. Similar to other fungal dermatophytes,<unk>  can invade keratinized tissues including skin and nails. A recent clinical case has also demonstrated its capacity of infecting eyes, causing keratitis. It does not perforate hair or hair follicles. This anthropophilic dermatophyte preferentially infects humans and rarely infects animals, thus lab animal experiments are found to be unsuccessful.<unk>  is more infective than most dermatophytes. Chronic infections are rare, therefore maintenance of the species relies on rapid transmission between hosts. The infection typically stays within the nonliving conidified layer of host epidermis, since the fungus cannot pierce through living tissues of individuals with normal immunity. However, it has been found to cause invasive infections in immunocompromised patients, demonstrating severe onychomycosis, skin lesions, and subcutaneous nodules. Spread<unk>  can remain viable for long periods of time by producing arthroconidia in skin scales. Arthroconidia are thick-walled spores with higher resistance to drying and heat conditions than mycelium. Arthroconidia formation allows<unk>  to survive for years in showers, baths, swimming pools, towels, blankets, sheets, shoes and other clothings. The fungus commonly spreads by contact in showers and gym facilities. Treatment In vitro studies have found that several agents are effective against<unk> . Disease-specific topical treatments for<unk> -related infections are usually effective, commonly with the use of terbinafine, itraconazole, and ketoconazole.
Epidermophyton floccosum
Microsporum fulvum
Trichobacteriosis axillaris
Microsporum gypseum
Trichophyton rubrum
Malassezia furfur
Madurella mycetomatis
Alternaria tenuissima