Lophophyton
Fowl favus caused by Lophophyton gallinae.
Lophophyton gallinae
Synonymy:
Microsporum gallinae
A recent taxonomic revision of the dermatophytes has reduced the genus Lophophyton to a single species (de Hoog et al. 2017).
Lophophyton gallinae is a zoophilic fungus causing fowl favus in chickens and other fowl, affecting the comb and wattles producing “white comb” lesions. A rare cause of tinea in humans. Invaded hairs show a sparse ectothrix infection but do not fluoresce under Wood’s ultra-violet light.
RG-2 organism.
Culture of Lophophyton gallinae.
Morphological description:
Colonies are flat with a suede-like texture and are white with a pinkish tinge in colour. Some cultures show radial folding. An orange-pink “strawberry” reverse pigment is usually present. Macroconidia, when present, are usually five to six celled, thin to thick-walled, slightly echinulate, cylindrical to clavate with a narrow base and blunt tip, 15-60 x 6-10 µm. Microconidia are ovoidal to pyriform in shape.
Macroconidia of Lophophyton gallinae.
Key features:
Macroconidial morphology, culture characteristics and clinical lesions in chickens.
Molecular identification:
ITS sequencing is recommended.
References:
- Cafarchia, C., Iatta, R., Latrofa, M.S., et al. (2013) Molecular epidemiology, phylogeny and evolution of dermatophytes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 20, 336-351.
- de Hoog G.S., Dukik, K., Monod, M., et al. (2017) Towards a noval multilocus phylogenetic taxonomy for dermatophytes. Mycopathologia,182, 5-31.
- Graser, Y., Scott, J. and Summerbell, R. (2008) The new species concept in dermatophytes - a polyphasic approach. Mycopathologia, 166, 239-256.
- Kidd, S., Halliday, C., Ellis, D. (2023) Descriptions of Medical Fungi (4th edition). CABI.
- Rebell, G. and Taplin, D. (1970) Dermatophytes; their recognition and identification. University of Miami Press, FL, USA.
- Rippon, J.W. (1988) Medical mycology: the pathogenic fungi and the pathogenic actinomycetes, 3rd edition. W,B. Saunders Co, Philadelphia, USA.