Review of Literature
Ringworm or "favus" of chickens was first described by Mégnin1 in 1881 as a disease which produced a fine moldiness on and about the comb and cheeks of chickens. Scrapings from infected areas showed mycelium and chains of round spores 6μ to 8μ in diameter. The first valid description of the etiologic agent appeared in 1890, when Mégnin2 isolated it from diseased chickens. The fungus was described as producing a snow-white colony and a striking currant-red pigment which diffused throughout the medium. Mégnin proposed the name Epidermophyton gallinae for this organism. The same organism was further studied in greater detail by Constantin and Sabrazès3 in 1893, Matruchot and Dassonville4 in 1899, and Sabouraud5 in 1910.
During the development of the classification of the dermatophytes, this species was shifted from one genus to another. The most frequent synonyms which have