[Animal model for superficial mycosis].

Tinea corporis and the tinea pedis model in guinea pig with Trichophyton mentagrophytes are well established models of dermatophytoses. We attempted to provide animal infection models for T. tonsurans, endemic in Japan, and Malassezia restricta, an important pathogenic factor in seborrhoeic dermatitis, by utilizing the tinea corporis model. An inoculum of the organisms was applied to the back skin of male guinea pigs. T. tonsurans infected animals showed follicular inflammation mimicking those seen in humans. Interestingly, anthropophilic T. tonsurans showed a high infection rate in animal skin. Meanwhile, a single application of M. restricta, as well as consecutive applications to the surface of the skin without any pretreatment, succeeded in producing scales mimicking seborrhoeic dermatitis, but application of the pathogens after the tape stripping of the stratum corneum failed to induce infection. These models using guinea pigs were considered to be useful for studying the pathogenesis of, and evaluating therapies for, T. tonsurans infection and seborrhoeic dermatitis.