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Table

Superficial Fungal Infections
DiseaseCausative OrganismsStructures InfectedMicroscopic Appearance
Epidermophytosis, e.g., dhobie itchEpidermophyton, e.g., floccosumInguinal, axillary, and interdigital folds; hairs not affectedLong, wavy, branched, and segmented hyphae and spindle-shaped cells in stratum corneum
Favus (tinea favosa)Trichophyton schoenleiniiEpidermis around a hair; all parts of body; nailsVertical hyphae and spores in epidermis; sinuous branching mycelium and chains in hairs
Ringworm (tinea, otomycosis)Microsporum, e.g., audouiniiHorny layer of epidermis and hairs, chiefly of scalpFine septate mycelium inside hairs and scales; spores in rows and mosaic plaques on hair surface
Trichophyton, e.g., tonsuransHairs of scalp, beard, and other parts; nailsMycelium of chained cubical elements and threads in and on hairs; often pigmented
Thrush and other forms of cand idiasisCand ida albicansTongue, mouth, throat, vagina, and skinYeastlike budding cells and oval thick-walled bodies in lesion
Systemic Fungal Infections
AspergillosisAspergillus fumigatusLungsY-shaped branching of septate hyphae
BlastomycosisBlastomyces brasiliensis, B. dermatitidisSkin and lungsYeastlike cells demonstrated in lesion
Cand idiasisCand ida albicansEsophagus, lungs, peritoneum, mucous membranesSmall, thin-walled, ovoid cells
CoccidioidomycosisCoccidioides immitisRespiratory tractNonbudding spores containing many endospores, in sputum
CryptococcosisCryptococcus neoformansMeninges, lungs, bone, skinYeastlike fungus having gelatinous capsule; demonstrated in spinal fluid
HistoplasmosisHistoplasma capsulatumLungsOval, budding, uninucleated cells