Trichophyton is a genus of
fungi, which includes the
parasitic varieties that cause
tinea, including
athlete's foot,
ringworm,
jock itch, and similar infections of the nail, beard, skin and scalp. Trichophyton fungi are
molds characterized by the development of both smooth-walled macro- and
microconidia.
Macroconidia are mostly borne laterally directly on the hyphae or on short pedicels, and are thin- or thick-walled,
clavate to , and range from 4 to 8 by 8 to 50
µm in size. Macroconidia are few or absent in many species. Microconidia are spherical, pyriform to clavate or of irregular shape, and range from 2 to 3 by 2 to 4 µm in size.