Vitamin Deficiencies of Seven Strains of Ectothrix, Large-spored Trichophytons Isolated from Man and Cattle

Abstract
The possibility that vitamin deficiencies might be useful in the identification of certain ectothrix Trichophyton strains was investigated. Five strains of T. discoides and 2 of T. ochraceum were studied on synthetic media with pyridoxine, thiamine, and DL-inositol, alone and in combinations. The results indicated that vitamin requirements are of no value for the identification of species. Thus among 4 strains of T. discoides isolated from man in Uruguay, 3 had complete deficiency only for DL-inositol, and the other complete deficiencies for DL-inositol, pyridoxine, and thiamine. Similar results were obtained with the 2 strains of T. ochraceum. The authors also conclude that T. album T. discoides. and T. ochraceum may be considered as synonyms, but that they are quite different from Trichophyton (Achorion) schOnleini.