INVASION OF NAILS INVITRO BY CERTAIN DERMATOPHYTES

[摘要] Invasion of nail clippings by certain dermatophytes, Tricophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. tonsurans, was induced in vitro by the use of the continuous shake culture technique. In sections of parasitized nail clippings stained by the periodic acid Schiff stain (PAS) technique, hyphae with occasional arthrospore formation were seen growing between the laminae of the nail, apparently pushing them apart. No evidence of keratolysis was found and the damage to the nail produced by the fungi seemed to be due to mechanical rather than chemical action.