The growth of Epidermophyton floccosum and E. stockdaleae at different temperatures

The ability of 17 strains of genus Epidermophyton (15 strains belonging to Epidermophyton floccosum, one to E. floccosum var. nigricans and one to E. stockdaleae) to grow at different temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, 34 °C, 37 °C and 40 °C) was stated. The strains were inoculated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and regularly controled over a period of 14 days when the plates were incubated at 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, 34 °C, 37 °C and 40 °C, and over a period of 70 days when the temperature was 4 °C. The optimal growth of E. floccosum was observed at 28 °C and 31 °C, and no signs of growth were recorded neither at 4 °C nor at 40 °C. The optimal development of E. stockdaleae was observed at 25 °C and 28 °C. This species grew from 4 °C to 31 °C. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.