Abstract:

Objective To establish a guinea pig model of dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton verrucosum. Methods Thirty-two guinea pigs were randomly and equally divided into four groups to remain untreated （group 1）, receive depilation and skin abrasion in the back （group 2 and 4）, or only depilation （group 3）. The back was smeared with a suspension （100 μl） of Trichophyton verrucosum in group 1, 2 and 3, and with that of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in group 4. Direct microscopy, fungal culture and histopathology were performed to validate the infection of guinea pigs by Trichophyton. Results Direct microscopy was persistently negative in group 1, turned to be positive from the 7th to 9th day in group 2, 3, and 4. Colonies began to appear 7 days after the inoculation of scrapings onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar （SDA） in group 2 and 3, and were observed at all the inoculated sites 2 weeks after the inoculation, with a morphological similarity to Trichophyton verrucosum before inoculation into guinea pigs. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed strongly refractive hyphae and spores in stratum corneum epidermidis and infundibular regions of some hair follicles in group 2 and 3. Conclusion A guinea pig model of dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton verrucosum is successfully constructed.

Key words: mechanical damage