Which structures are observed in the culture forms of Cutaneous Mycoses?

• A. Hyphae and arthrospores only
• B. Yeasts only
• C. Bacterial spores
• D. No structures

Answer: (A)

Dermatophytes, the fungi behind cutaneous mycoses, grow as filamentous hyphae in culture and form arthroconidia (arthrospores) by fragmentation of those hyphae. This combination—hyphae with arthrospores—is characteristic of their culture forms and is how these organisms are typically identified on culture. Yeasts would present as budding yeast cells or pseudohyphae, not the hyphae/arthrospore pattern of dermatophytes; bacterial spores come from bacteria, not fungi; and saying there are no structures would overlook the hallmark fungal morphology seen in culture. So hyphae and arthrospores accurately reflect the culture morphology of cutaneous mycoses.