Which organism commonly causes tinea corporis and tinea capitis?

• A. Microsporum gypseum
• B. Malassezia furfur
• C. Epidermophyton floccosum
• D. Candida albicans

Answer: (A)

Dermatophyte infections of the skin depend on the species, which determines where the fungus most often invades keratin. Microsporum gypseum is a dermatophyte that commonly infects keratinized tissue and can involve both the body skin (tinea corporis) and the scalp (tinea capitis), making it a frequent cause of both conditions among the options listed. Malassezia furfur causes tinea versicolor, not the typical tinea corporis/capitis; Epidermophyton floccosum usually causes tinea pedis and cruris rather than scalp involvement; Candida albicans causes candidiasis rather than dermatophytosis. So Microsporum gypseum best fits as the organism associated with both tinea corporis and tinea capitis.