Trichosporon spp. is characterized by the production of true hyphae and pseudohyphae, arthroconidia, and blastoconidia. There are six species of clinical significance: T. asahii, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. cutaneum, T. ovoides, and T. asteroides. T. asahii, T. inkin, and T. mucoides are the most commonly isolated of the six species.
Trichosporon was initially recognized as the cause of white piedra, a superficial infection of the hair shaft of the scalp, face, axillary, or pubic regions, characterized by soft white, yellow, green, or beige nodules composed of hyaline septate hyphae and arthroconidia. The disease occurs worldwide but occurs more commonly in tropical or subtropical regions.
The top right image is of a hair shaft infected with Trichosporon. The bottom right image is a lactophenol cotton blue microscopic image of Trichosporon.
Images courtesy of the CDC.