DERMATOPHYTES AGAR BASE 500 grams/bottle

Dermatophytes Agar Base is a selective and differential medium used for the detection and presumptive identification of dermatophytes from clinical and veterinary specimens. Dermatophytes represent a group of three types of fungi that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. Dermatophytes cause cutaneous fungal infections of the hair, skin and nails generally referred to as tinea or ringworm due to their ability to obtain nutrients from keratinized material. This media carries phenol red as a pH indicator, selective inhibitors, cycloheximide and supplements (gentamicin and chlorotetracycline). The soy peptone provides nitrogenous and carbonaceous substances essential for microbial growth. Dextrose is the fermentable carbohydrate providing carbon and energy. The pH indicator, phenol red, is used to detect acid production. Cycloheximide is an antibiotic which inhibits saprophytic fungi but allows for the growth of pathogenic fungi. The additives, gentamicin and chlorotetracycline aid in the selectivity of the medium. Gentamicin inhibits Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas species. Bacteriological agar is the solidifying agent. Dermatophytes metabolize peptones into alkaline products, which change the pH indicator from yellow to red. Most of the other fungi use glucose as energy source, so the medium will be acidified and yellow in color.