A zoophilic form of T. mentagrophytes and the cause of "mouse favus" seen on mice as thick saucer-shaped yellow crusted lesions called scutula. Infections in humans are usually inflammatory and sometimes produce scutula. Invaded hairs are rarely seen but they may show either ectothrix or endothrix infection. Infected human hairs do not fluoresce under Wood's ultra-violet light, but very occasional hairs from experimental lesions in guinea pigs may show a pale yellow fluorescence.Distribution: Difficult to establish but probably world-wide. Often associated with mice plagues in the Australian Wheat Belt.Key Features: Culture characteristics, microscopic morphology, contact with mice, odour and rapid urease test.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes

var. quinckeanum

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