Lipolytic activity of some dermatophytes.

The lipolytic activities of four common dermatophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum, were tested on agar medium supplemented with one or other of several lipids. The lipolytic activity was estimated by comparison of the zone sizes around the colonies. The highest lipolytic activity was demonstrated by M. canis, followed by T. mentagrophytes and E. floccosum; T. rubrum virtually lacked lipolytic activity. The clinical importance of these observations and their application in the identification of dermatophytes is discussed.