Malbranchia species share the production of alternate staining arthroconidia as a common feature with the...

Malbranchia species share the production of alternate staining arthroconidia as a common feature with the mold form of Coccidioides immitis.

Both Geotrichum species and Trichosporon species produce rectangular-shaped arthroconidia; however, they are regularly rather than alternately staining. Additionally, the arthroconidia of Geotrichum may produce germ tubes from one corner and the arthroconidia of Trichosporon species may produce blastoconidia from adjacent corners, features not shared by either Malbranchia species or Coccidioides immitis.

The hyphae of Microsporum canis, as seen in direct KOH mounts of skin scales, may break up into arthroconidia; however, they are much narrower in dimension and do not share the alternate staining characteristics.

Microbiology

The hyaline saprobic fungus that has microscopic features similar to the mold form of Coccidioides immitis is: