Trichophyton terrestreas a resident in hedgehog skin

Abstract

The morphological and physiological characters of strains of Trichophyton terrestre isolated from the cutaneous appendages of hedgehogs are described. The strains grow slowly, forming granular furrowed colonies and producing a wine-coloured pigment in the medium. They appear to form a homogeneous group showing several characters which distinguish them from soil isolates. Their failure to grow in sterile soil and certain other attributes suggest that these organisms are true inhabitants of the skin of hedgehogs rather than contaminants from the soil. No pathogenic effects in guinea-pigs hedgehog or human skin could be demonstrated.