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Hair Destroying Growth of Corynebacterium tenuis in the So-Called Trichomycosis AxillarisNew Findings From Scanning Electron Microscopy
Constantin E. Orfanos, MD;
Edgar Schloesser, MD;
Gustav Mahrle, MD
Arch Dermatol. 1971;103(6):632-639.
Abstract
The investigation of numerous involved hairs of two patients in a scanning electron microscope reveals that the so-called trichomycosis axillaris is a hair disease of bacterial origin which leads to considerable destruction of the hair cuticle and of the superficial hair cortex. The well-known deposits and yellowish "sheaths" of hairs involved are extensive turf-like or bulbous colonies of myriads of diphtheroid bacteria which proliferate on the surface of the hair destroying the underlying cuticular and cortical keratins. A thready material serves as a "sticky" substance contributing to the adherence of the bacterium on the hair surface, in spite of the mechanical friction of axillary hairs. The observed microorganisms are short, thick, sometimes club-shaped rods, and 0.4µm to 0.6µm x 1.3µm to 1.8µm in size. They correspond to Corynebacterium tenuis, which is considered to be the pathogen micro-organism of the disease. This bacterium is obviously able to destroy keratin.
Author Affiliations
Cologne, West Germany
From the Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Cologne, West Germany.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 5, 1970.
Reprint requests to Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, 5, Köln, Joseph Stelzmann Strasse 9, West Germany (Priv. Doz. Dr. C. E. Orfanos).
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