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The causative agent of inguinal epidermophytosis (Epidermophyton floccosum)
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Epidermophytosis inguinalis is a mycosis caused by the anthropophilic fungus Epidermophyton floccosum (flocculent epidermophile). The skin of the inguinal, axillary folds and shins is affected, less often - the skin of the interdigital folds and the nail plates of the feet.
Septate branching mycelium and rectangular arthrospores arranged in chains are found in skin scales. In pure culture, E. floccosum consists of septate yellowish mycelium, large chlamydospores (20-30 µm) and blunt-ended macroconidia arranged in groups of 3-5 at the ends of hyphae in the form of banana bunches. Inguinal dermatomycosis can also be caused by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentogrophytes and Candida fungi.