Which organism commonly causes tinea corporis and tinea capitis?

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.

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.