reappraisal of the in vitro hair perforation test to differentiate between trichophyton mentagrophytes and trichophyton rubrum

The in vitro test was performed to study the behaviour of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Prepubertal and adult hair from different body sites were used. Trichophyton rubrum failed to produce perforations in any of the exposed hair. Trichophyton mentagrophytes produced perforations in the hair from all the sites tested. No difference was observed between prepubertal or adult hair and between adult hair from different sites