Abstract
The author introduces to the basic facts and of brief histories of the perfect state of the dermatophytes. The classification of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, prior to the discovery of its perfect states, is reviewed. On the basis of the perfect states obtained by confrontations of strains of T. mentagrophytes, it is demonstrated that it is minimum of a complex of different asexual strains corresponding to three perfect states : Arthroderma simii, Arthroderma benhamiae and Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. On the basis of their mating behaviour, their morphology in culture and/or their biochemical characters, the members of the T. mentagrophytes complex can also be divided in races, varieties and conidial forms. Though Trichophyton interdigitale is a member of the T. mentagrophytes complex, its exact status remains unknown so far.
