Ringworm

Ringworm is a contagious skin fungus that manifests initially as a flat hairless patch on the skin which later expands to a ring.

Ringworm affects both animals and humans, and can be transmitted between species.

A number of different fungi cause ringworm, these are called dermatophytes. Members of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum are the most common causative agents.

To establish the organism causing the problem, a skin scraping can be taken. This is put on an agar plate in a microbiology laboratory, and the fungus identified.