Microsporum spp- An Overview

Microsporum spp are a group of fungi that cause various skin infections in humans and animals, collectively known as dermatophytoses or ringworms. These fungi belong to the phylum Ascomycota and the order Onygenales, along with other dermatophytes such as Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.

The habitat of Microsporum spp varies depending on their ecological classification. Some species are geophilic, meaning they live naturally in the soil and can infect humans or animals through contact with contaminated soil. Examples of geophilic species are Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum fulvum. Other species are zoophilic, meaning they primarily infect animals and can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their hair. Examples of zoophilic species are Microsporum canis and Microsporum nanum. Finally, some species are anthropophilic, meaning they mainly infect humans and can be spread from person to person through direct contact or fomites. Examples of anthropophilic species are Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum ferrugineum.

Microsporum spp are keratinolytic fungi, which means they can degrade keratin, a protein found in the skin, hair and nails of humans and animals. This allows them to colonize the superficial layers of these tissues and cause various types of infections, such as tinea capitis (scalp), tinea corporis (body), tinea pedis (foot) and tinea unguium (nail). These infections are characterized by itching, scaling, redness, inflammation and sometimes hair loss or nail deformity.

Microsporum spp thrive at room temperature of 25-27°C, on keratin surfaces where temperatures are low. They are sensitive to high temperatures and cannot grow above 37°C, which limits their invasion to the nonviable skin tissues. They also require moisture and oxygen for their growth and survival.

Microsporum spp can be isolated from various sources, such as soil samples, animal hair, human skin scrapings, nail clippings or hair plucks. They can be identified by their morphological characteristics, such as the shape, size and wall features of their macroconidia (large asexual spores) and microconidia (small asexual spores), as well as their cultural characteristics, such as the color, texture and pigmentation of their colonies on different media . Some species can also be detected by their fluorescence under Wood`s lamp (ultraviolet light), such as Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii.

Microsporum spp are important pathogens that cause significant morbidity and economic losses in humans and animals worldwide. They can be treated with topical or oral antifungal agents, depending on the type and severity of the infection. Prevention and control measures include maintaining good hygiene, avoiding contact with infected individuals or animals, wearing protective clothing and footwear, disinfecting contaminated objects and treating infected animals .

Microsporum spp are a group of dermatophytes that cause infections of the skin, hair and nails. They are characterized by their distinctive macroconidia and microconidia, which are asexual spores produced by hyphae-like conidiophores.

Macroconidia

Macroconidia are large spores that vary in shape, size and number of cells depending on the species. They are usually hyaline (translucent), multiseptate (divided by cross-walls) and have a thin or thick cell wall that is echinulate (spiny) or verrucose (warty). Some species have a terminal knob at one end of the macroconidium. The macroconidia are typically 7–20 μm by 30–160 μm in size . The macroconidia are the main diagnostic feature of Microsporum spp, as they can be easily observed under a microscope and distinguished from other dermatophytes.

Microconidia

Microconidia are smaller spores that are usually unicellular, solitary and oval to clavate (club-shaped) in shape. They have a smooth, hyaline and thin cell wall. The microconidia are 2.5–3.5 μm by 4–7 μm in size . Microconidia are less common and less distinctive than macroconidia, and some species may not produce them at all.

Hyphae

Hyphae are the filamentous structures that make up the mycelium (body) of the fungus. They are septate, branched and hyaline. Some species may produce specialized hyphae such as pectinate (comb-like), racquet (with swollen tips) or bamboo (with swollen segments) hyphae . These hyphae may help in identifying certain species of Microsporum.

Figure: Macroconidia of Microsporum canis are typically spindle-shaped with 5-15 cells, verrucose, thick-walled, and often have a terminal knob. A few pyriform to clavate microconidia are also present. Image Source: The University of Adelaide.

Microsporum spp are dermatophyte fungi that grow on keratinized materials such as skin, hair and nails. They can cause various types of cutaneous infections, commonly known as ringworms or tinea. To identify and differentiate Microsporum spp from other fungi, their cultural characteristics are important.

Cultural characteristics refer to the appearance, growth and pigmentation of fungal colonies on different types of media. Microsporum spp can grow on various media, such as Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), Trichophyton agar, potato dextrose agar (PDA) and rice grain agar. Depending on the species and the medium, Microsporum spp may show different cultural characteristics.

Some of the common cultural characteristics of Microsporum spp are:

• They grow rapidly on SDA at 25°C, producing fluffy, wooly or powdery colonies with variable pigmentation. Some species may produce a perfect form, which is a sexual stage that undergoes meiosis and produces ascospores.
• They produce good growth on rice grain agar with pigmented peripheries. Rice grain agar is useful for inducing the production of macroconidia, which are large asexual spores that are distinctive for Microsporum spp.
• They grow well on Trichophyton agar, which is a basic medium that contains thiamine and inositol. Trichophyton agar is used for the identification and differentiation of Microsporum spp based on their colony morphology and color.
• Some species may produce urease, an enzyme that hydrolyzes urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urease production can be detected by using Christensen`s urea agar, which changes color from yellow to pink in the presence of ammonia.

Some examples of the cultural characteristics of selected species of Microsporum spp are:

• Microsporum audouinii: This species produces flat, white, suede-like to downy colonies with yellow-brown reverse on Trichophyton agar. On SDA, it produces pinkish-brown or salmon-colored fluffy colonies. It rarely produces microconidia and its macroconidia are long and smooth with irregular spindle shape.
• Microsporum canis: This species produces flat, white, suede-like to downy colonies with yellow to pale yellow-brown reverse on Trichophyton agar. On SDA, it produces bright yellow colonies. It produces few microconidia that are pyriform to clavate and its macroconidia are spindle-shaped with 5-15 cells, verrucose, thick-walled and often have a terminal knob.
• Microsporum ferrugineum: This species produces slow-growing colonies that have a waxy glabrous, convoluted thallus with a creamy to buff-colored surface on SDA. It has surface pigmentation from yellow to creamy to deep red. It produces irregular branching hyphae with a bamboo appearance that carries chlamydospores. It also produces pectinate and racquet hyphae.
• Microsporum fulvum: This species produces floccose, wooly colonies with a granular appearance and a sandy-brown tinge on SDA. It produces clustered cells that are 8 microns in diameter with branched hyphae. It also produces ascospores, macroconidia and microconidia. Its macroconidia are fusoid-shaped with tapered ends and its microconidia are drop-shaped.

The cultural characteristics of Microsporum spp are useful for their identification and differentiation from other fungi. However, they should be confirmed by microscopic examination of their morphological features and biochemical tests for their enzymatic activities.

Microsporum is a genus of fungi that causes various skin infections in humans and animals. The genus Microsporum is now restricted to just three species: M. audouinii, M. canis and M. ferrugineum. The remaining geophilic and zoophilic species, previously considered Microsporum species, have been transferred to the genera Lophophyton, Nannizzia and Paraphyton. Here are some of the most common and clinically important species of Microsporum:

• Microsporum audouinii: This is an anthropophilic fungus that causes non-inflammatory infections of the scalp and the skin in children. It is a major cause of tinea capitis, invading the hair shafts with an ectothrix infection on the site of the invasion. The ectothrix fluoresces a bright-yellow under Wood’s ultra-violet light. On basic media, it forms spread flat colonies that are whitish-grey to tanned white in color. They have a furry texture. They form macroconidia and rarely do they form microconidia. The macroconidia are long and smooth with irregular spindle shape. If microconidia are formed, they are pyriform to clavate shaped. They also form hyphal forms of pectinate (comb-like) and racquet hyphae (segmented series of hyphae with swollen tips).
• Microsporum canis: This is a zoophilic dermatophyte that is transmitted from dogs and cats to humans and it is distributed worldwide. It is a common cause of ringworms, especially in children. It invades the hair and skin showing an ectothrix infection which can be detected with the Wood’s ultra-violet light, fluorescing as bright greenish-yellow light. They produce good growth in rice grain agar with white aerial mycelium with the production of yellow pigment. In basic media, they form spread flat colonies that are white to cream-colored, with a cottony surface. The colonies also have an edged pigmented surface which is brownish-yellow. They produce macroconidia which are spindle-shaped with 5-15 cells, with a verrucose thock wall and a terminal end. They may also produce microconidia which are fewer in number, and they are pyriform to clavate. There are other strains of Microsporum canis dysgonic strains such as Microsporum canis var. distortum which commonly causes infection in cats and dogs and Microsporum canis var. equinum which causes ringworms in horses.
• Microsporum ferrugineum: It is an anthropophilic fungus that causes epidemic juvenile tinea capitis in humans. Its infection is similar to the infection caused by Microsporum audouinii. It invades the hair shafts causing an ectothrix infection that can be detected by the Wood’s ultra-violet light appearing or fluorescing as greenish-yellow. It is common in Asia, Russia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. In basic mycological media (SDA, PDA), colonies are slow-forming which have a waxy glabrous, convoluted thallus with a creamy to buff-colored surface. They have surface pigmentation from yellow to creamy to deep red. The colonies are downy and pleomorphic. They also show irregular branching hyphae with a bamboo hyphal appearance that carries chlamydospores. The bamboo-branched hyphae is a specific and distinct characteristic of Microsporum ferrugineum.
• Microsporum fulvum: This is the most common cause of ringworms (tinea corporis) and Atheletes’foot (Tinea pedis). It is commonly found in soil and it thrives in keratinized materials such as hair, nails, and skin. It is classified as an opportunistic fungal agent that causes cutaneous mycoses in humans and animals. They grow within 4-5 days forming floccose, wooly colonies in basic mycological media. The colonies produce clustered cells which have a granular appearance with a sandy-brown tinge and white edges. They are perfect fungi, reproducing both asexually and sexually. Sexual reproduction produces ascospores while asexual reproduction produces macroconidia and microconidia. The ascospores are 5-7 microns large with up to 8 spores. The asexual macroconidia are largely occurring in clusters of 8 microns in diameter with branched hyphae. Macroconidia are fusoid-shaped with tapered ends and the are thin-walled. Microconidia are drop-shaped which sparsely populated irregular hyphae; which may appear as horsehair, fruity-bodies called cleistothecia forms.

Other species of Microsporum include: Microsporum amazonicum, Microsporum boullardii, Microsporum cookei, Microsporum distortum, Microsporum duboisii, Microsporum equinum, Microsporum gallinae, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum langeronii, Microsporum nanum, Microsporum persicolor, Microsporum praecox, Microsporum ripariae, and Microsporum rivalieri .

Microsporum spp. are dermatophytes that cause cutaneous infections of the hair, skin, and nails by invading the keratinized tissues. They produce an enzyme called keratinase that degrades keratin and allows the fungi to penetrate and colonize the host tissues. The pathogenesis of Microsporum spp. depends on the natural reservoir of the species, the mode of transmission, the host immune response, and the site of infection.

There are three types of Microsporum spp. based on their natural reservoir: geophilic, zoophilic, and anthropophilic. Geophilic species are acquired from contact with soil, zoophilic species are transmitted from animals to humans, and anthropophilic species are spread from person to person. The mode of transmission can be direct or indirect, through contact with infected hair, skin, nails, clothing, bedding, or fomites.

The host immune response to Microsporum spp. varies depending on the type and severity of infection. Generally, the fungi elicit a localized inflammatory reaction that is mediated by cellular and humoral immunity. The inflammatory response can be mild or severe, depending on the virulence of the fungus, the susceptibility of the host, and the presence of predisposing factors such as trauma, occlusion, humidity, or immunosuppression. The inflammation can cause symptoms such as itching, scaling, redness, rashes, blisters, pustules, or alopecia.

The site of infection by Microsporum spp. determines the clinical manifestation of the disease. Microsporum spp. mostly infect the hair and skin, except for Microsporum persicolor which does not infect hair. Nail infections are very rare. The most common infections caused by Microsporum spp. are:

• Tinea capitis: a fungal infection of the scalp hair that is also known as ringworm or herpes tonsurans. It is more common in children and can cause hair loss, scaling, crusting, or scarring. It can be classified into ectothrix or endothrix infections depending on whether the fungus affects the outer or inner part of the hair shaft.
• Tinea corporis: a fungal infection of the body skin that is also known as ringworm or tinea circinata. It can affect any part of the body except the palms, soles, and mucous membranes. It is characterized by circular lesions with raised edges and central clearing that can be itchy or scaly.
• Tinea barbae: a fungal infection of the beard area that is also known as barber`s itch or tinea sycosis. It can affect men who shave their facial hair and can cause folliculitis, pustules, nodules, or abscesses.
• Tinea manuum: a fungal infection of the hand that is also known as tinea manus. It can affect one or both hands and can cause dryness, scaling, fissures, or vesicles.
• Tinea pedis: a fungal infection of the foot that is also known as athlete`s foot or tinea pedum. It can affect one or both feet and can cause maceration, scaling, cracking, itching, or burning between the toes or on the sole.
• Tinea unguium: a fungal infection of the nail that is also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguis. It is very rare for Microsporum spp. to cause this infection and it can affect one or more nails of the fingers or toes. It can cause discoloration, thickening, brittleness, or detachment of the nail plate.

Tinea capitis and tinea corporis are two common types of dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin) caused by Microsporum spp. These fungi are able to infect keratinized tissues such as hair, skin, and nails. They can be transmitted through direct contact with infected humans, animals, or soil, or indirectly through fomites such as hats, hairbrushes, or towels .

Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp hair that is also known as ringworm or herpes tonsurans infection. It occurs primarily in children between 3 and 14 years of age, but it can affect any age group . It may also involve the eyelashes and eyebrows.

Tinea capitis can be divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types. The non-inflammatory type usually does not cause scarring alopecia (hair loss with scar formation). The inflammatory type may result in a kerion, a painful nodule with pus, and scarring alopecia.

The most common causative agents of tinea capitis are Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii . These fungi cause an ectothrix infection, which means that they affect the outer sheath of the hair shaft. The infected hairs fluoresce blue-green under a Wood`s lamp (ultraviolet light) .

The clinical manifestations of tinea capitis include:

• Black dot tinea capitis: The infected hairs break off at the scalp level, leaving black dots on the skin.
• Kerion: A boggy inflammation with deep-seated oozing nodules, abscesses, crusting, or scutula (yellowish crusts).
• Favus: A chronic infection with scaly patches and matted hair that form a honeycomb-like crust called favus.

The diagnosis of tinea capitis can be confirmed by:

• Potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation: A microscopic examination of skin scrapings or hair clippings treated with KOH to dissolve keratin and reveal fungal elements.
• Fungal culture: A laboratory test that grows the fungus from skin scrapings or hair clippings on a specific medium such as potato dextrose agar or trichophyton agar .
• Histopathologic examination: A microscopic examination of nail clippings stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) to detect fungal elements in the nail plate.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A molecular test that amplifies and detects fungal DNA from skin scrapings or hair clippings.

The treatment of tinea capitis requires systemic antifungal medication such as terbinafine, itraconazole, or fluconazole for several weeks . Topical antifungal products are ineffective for tinea capitis. Antifungal shampoos can be used as adjunctive therapy to reduce fungal transmission and contamination .

Tinea corporis

Tinea corporis is a fungal infection of the skin that is also known as ringworm. It can affect any part of the body except the scalp, beard area, palms, and soles. It is more common in hot and humid climates and in people who have close contact with animals or soil .

The most common causative agents of tinea corporis are Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum . These fungi cause an ectothrix infection, which means that they affect the outer layer of the skin. The infected areas may fluoresce blue-green under a Wood`s lamp (ultraviolet light) .

The clinical manifestations of tinea corporis include:

• Annular lesions: Pink-reddish round-shaped patches with plaques and a raised scaly border that expands on its periphery and clears at the center.
• Papular lesions: Small raised bumps that may have pus at the periphery of the annular lesions.
• Pruritus: Itching sensation at the affected areas.

The diagnosis of tinea corporis can be confirmed by:

• Potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation: A microscopic examination of skin scrapings treated with KOH to dissolve keratin and reveal fungal elements.
• Fungal culture: A laboratory test that grows the fungus from skin scrapings on a specific medium such as potato dextrose agar or trichophyton agar .
• Histopathologic examination: A microscopic examination of skin biopsies stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) to detect fungal elements in the epidermis.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A molecular test that amplifies and detects fungal DNA from skin scrapings.

The treatment of tinea corporis depends on the severity and extent of the infection. Mild to moderate infections can be treated with topical antifungal products such as imidazole, ciclopirox, naftifine, or terbinafine in cream, lotion, or gel form . Chronic or extensive infections may require systemic antifungal agents such as terbinafine, itraconazole, or fluconazole .

Specimens: Skin scrapings, nail scrapings, hair scraping, pus, tissue biopsies.

Differential diagnosis: The lesions formed by Microsporum spp can be distinguished from other microbial lesions such as bacterial abscess, psoriasis, eczema, syphilis, lupus erythematosus.

Direct Examination: KOH Wet mount using the skin scrapings and pus. The KOH dissolves the keratin and other cellular debris, allowing the visualization of fungal elements under a microscope. The presence of macroconidia and microconidia can help identify Microsporum spp. Some species of Microsporum can also fluoresce under Wood`s lamp (ultraviolet light), producing a greenish-yellow or blue-white color.

Cultural examination: Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) or Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) are commonly used media for the growth and identification of Microsporum species. The colonies usually appear within 4-14 days at 25-30°C and have different colors, textures and shapes depending on the species . For example:

• Microsporum audouinii produce pinkish-brown or salmon-colored fluffy colonies.
• Microsporum canis produces bright yellow colonies on PDA and white to cream-colored colonies with a yellow to pale yellow-brown reverse on SDA.
• Microsporum ferrugineum produces waxy glabrous, convoluted colonies with a creamy to buff-colored surface and surface pigmentation from yellow to creamy to deep red.
• Microsporum fulvum produces floccose, wooly colonies with a granular appearance and a sandy-brown tinge.

The identification of Microsporum spp can be confirmed by microscopic examination of the colony morphology and the production of macroconidia and microconidia. Some species may also produce distinctive hyphal forms such as pectinate (comb-like), racquet or bamboo hyphae .

Histological Identification: The periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain is a special stain that helps in identifying dermatophytic fungi in tissue sections. The PAS stain reacts with the polysaccharides in the fungal cell wall and produces a magenta color. The presence of septate hyphae, macroconidia and microconidia can indicate Microsporum spp infection .

Molecular Identification: PCR tests can be used to detect and identify Microsporum spp from clinical specimens or cultures. PCR tests are based on the amplification and detection of specific DNA sequences that are unique to each species or genus of fungi. PCR tests can provide rapid and accurate identification of Microsporum spp, especially when conventional methods are inconclusive or unreliable. There are several PCR tests for dermatophytes described in the scientific literature but only a few are commercially available.

Some examples of PCR tests for Microsporum spp are:

• A multiplex PCR test that can differentiate between Microsporum canis, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton spp based on the amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA.
• A real-time PCR test that can detect and quantify Microsporum canis DNA from hair samples using a TaqMan probe specific for the chitin synthase 1 gene.

• A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) test that can identify 18 species of dermatophytes including six species of Microsporum (M. canis, M. audouinii, M. gypseum, M. fulvum, M. ferrugineum and M. persicolor) by digesting the ITS region with different restriction enzymes and analyzing the resulting fragments by gel electrophoresis.

  Treatment and management of Microsporum spp infections

Microsporum spp are dermatophytes that cause cutaneous infections of the skin, hair and nails. The treatment and management of these infections depend on the severity, location and extent of the lesions, as well as the species of Microsporum involved. The following are some general guidelines for the treatment and management of Microsporum spp infections:

• Topical antifungals: These are usually the first-line therapy for mild to moderate infections of the skin and nails caused by Microsporum spp. They include creams, lotions, gels, sprays, shampoos and powders that contain antifungal agents such as imidazole, ciclopirox, naftifine or terbinafine . They are applied to the affected areas once or twice daily for several weeks until the lesions clear up. Topical antifungals may also be used as prophylaxis to prevent recurrence or spread of the infection.
• Oral antifungals: These are indicated for more severe or extensive infections of the skin, hair and nails caused by Microsporum spp, especially those involving the scalp (tinea capitis) or the nails (onychomycosis). They include tablets or capsules that contain antifungal agents such as griseofulvin, itraconazole or terbinafine . They are taken orally once or twice daily for several weeks or months depending on the type and duration of the infection. Oral antifungals may have side effects such as liver toxicity, gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions or drug interactions, so they should be used with caution and under medical supervision.
• Combination therapy: This involves the use of both topical and oral antifungals for more effective and faster treatment of Microsporum spp infections. For example, a combination of topical terbinafine and oral itraconazole has been shown to be superior to either agent alone for the treatment of tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis. Combination therapy may also reduce the risk of resistance development and relapse of the infection.
• Supportive measures: These include keeping the affected areas clean and dry, avoiding scratching or rubbing the lesions, trimming or shaving the infected hair or nails, washing clothes and bedding in hot water and disinfecting personal items such as combs, brushes, scissors or nail clippers. These measures help to prevent secondary bacterial infections, reduce inflammation and itching, and prevent transmission of the infection to others.

Suggestions for prevention and control measures for Microsporum spp infections

Microsporum spp are fungi that cause various skin infections such as ringworm, tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and other dermatophytoses. These infections can be transmitted from animals to humans, or from person to person through direct contact or sharing of contaminated objects. Therefore, prevention and control measures are important to reduce the risk of infection and spread of the fungi.

Some of the general suggestions for prevention and control measures are:

• Hygienic handwashing after handling and exposure to animals, soil, and plants.
• Avoiding touching lesions on the skin and scalp of infected people.
• Wearing loose-fitting clothing on the affected areas.
• Practicing good hygiene when engaging in activities that involve close human contact with skin.
• Cleaning and disinfecting personal items such as combs, brushes, hats, towels, bedding, and clothing that may have come in contact with the fungi.
• Keeping nails short and clean to prevent fungal growth under the nails.
• Avoiding sharing personal items such as nail clippers, scissors, razors, or hair accessories with others.
• Seeking medical attention if symptoms of infection appear, such as itching, redness, scaling, rashes, or hair loss.
• Following the prescribed treatment regimen for the infection, which may include topical or oral antifungals .
• Completing the full course of treatment even if symptoms improve to prevent recurrence or resistance of the fungi.

Some of the specific suggestions for prevention and control measures for different types of Microsporum spp infections are:

• For tinea capitis (scalp infection), using antifungal shampoos as recommended by the doctor to reduce fungal shedding and transmission. Avoiding scratching or picking at the scalp lesions to prevent secondary bacterial infection or scarring. Cutting or shaving the hair around the affected area may also help in some cases.
• For tinea corporis (body infection), applying antifungal creams or lotions to the affected area as directed by the doctor. Avoiding scratching or rubbing the skin lesions to prevent irritation or inflammation. Covering the lesions with a bandage or dressing may help prevent spreading the infection to others.
• For tinea unguium (nail infection), trimming or filing the infected nails as much as possible to reduce fungal load. Applying antifungal nail lacquer or taking oral antifungals as prescribed by the doctor. Wearing breathable shoes and socks to prevent moisture buildup in the feet. Discarding or sterilizing nail tools that have been used on infected nails.

By following these suggestions, one can prevent and control Microsporum spp infections and avoid complications such as secondary bacterial infections, scarring, disfigurement, or systemic dissemination of the fungi.

Microsporum spp are fungi that cause various skin infections such as ringworm, tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and other dermatophytoses. These infections can be transmitted from animals to humans, or from person to person through direct contact or sharing of contaminated objects. Therefore, prevention and control measures are important to reduce the risk of infection and spread of the fungi.

Some of the general suggestions for prevention and control measures are:

• Hygienic handwashing after handling and exposure to animals, soil, and plants.
• Avoiding touching lesions on the skin and scalp of infected people.
• Wearing loose-fitting clothing on the affected areas.
• Practicing good hygiene when engaging in activities that involve close human contact with skin.
• Cleaning and disinfecting personal items such as combs, brushes, hats, towels, bedding, and clothing that may have come in contact with the fungi.
• Keeping nails short and clean to prevent fungal growth under the nails.
• Avoiding sharing personal items such as nail clippers, scissors, razors, or hair accessories with others.
• Seeking medical attention if symptoms of infection appear, such as itching, redness, scaling, rashes, or hair loss.
• Following the prescribed treatment regimen for the infection, which may include topical or oral antifungals .
• Completing the full course of treatment even if symptoms improve to prevent recurrence or resistance of the fungi.

Some of the specific suggestions for prevention and control measures for different types of Microsporum spp infections are:

• For tinea capitis (scalp infection), using antifungal shampoos as recommended by the doctor to reduce fungal shedding and transmission. Avoiding scratching or picking at the scalp lesions to prevent secondary bacterial infection or scarring. Cutting or shaving the hair around the affected area may also help in some cases.
• For tinea corporis (body infection), applying antifungal creams or lotions to the affected area as directed by the doctor. Avoiding scratching or rubbing the skin lesions to prevent irritation or inflammation. Covering the lesions with a bandage or dressing may help prevent spreading the infection to others.
• For tinea unguium (nail infection), trimming or filing the infected nails as much as possible to reduce fungal load. Applying antifungal nail lacquer or taking oral antifungals as prescribed by the doctor. Wearing breathable shoes and socks to prevent moisture buildup in the feet. Discarding or sterilizing nail tools that have been used on infected nails.

By following these suggestions, one can prevent and control Microsporum spp infections and avoid complications such as secondary bacterial infections, scarring, disfigurement, or systemic dissemination of the fungi.

We are Compiling this Section. Thanks for your understanding.