Trichophyton raubitschekii: a new agent of dermatophytosis in Brazil?

A microbiological and ultrastructural study of Trichophyton raubitschekii recovered from a patient with tinea faciei is presented. This is the second case of isolation of this fungus in Sao Paulo and the sixth case in Brazil. Upon culture, the morphological pattern and the physiological tests performed confirmed the identification of T. raubitschekii. The ultrastructural study of T. raubitschekii showed the presence of a membrane-like structure located in the outer portion of the hyphal walls. This structure was bi-stratified and very like the one observed in T. rubrum. Is T. raubitschekii a new fungus emerging in Brazil or is it a T. rubrum variant?

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