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case_images: The clinical manifestations of the patient. (A) image showing the seborrheic dermatitis-like rash and hair loss on the scalp of patients with initially diagnosed tinea capitis. (B) image showing the lesions represents the same field as A under the Wood lamp. (C and D) images showing the lesions on the scalp of patients with tinea capitis before and after treatment.
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case_images: The hair on the top of the head appeared sparse, with some strands being dry and tapered (Figure 1A). Wood lamp examination revealed bright green fluorescence in the area of hair loss on the top of the head (Figure 1B).  Prior to starting treatment, the patient had her hair cut short (Figure 1C). Three weeks later, the erythema on the top of the head had disappeared, desquamation was significantly reduced, the hair became thicker compared to before, and the fluorescence microscopy test showed a negative finding (Figure 1D). Figure 2B and Supplementary Material 1). Further examination of scalp scrapings and hair from the affected area on the top of scalp showed a significant presence of antler branch hyphae and spherical spores both under a fluorescence microscope (Figure 2C) and a light microscope (Figure 2D). 
case_images: Specimens from the skin lesion were subjected to direct microscopic examination. (A) a representative image of fungal hyphae and spores from the scalp scales on the top of head staining with calcofluor white under fluorescence microscope (original magnification, x400); (B) represents the same field as A under the light microscopy. (C) a representative image for fungal hyphae and spores from hair in the rash area on the top of the head staining with calcofluor white under fluorescence microscope (original magnification, x400); (D) represents the same field as C under the light microscope. (E) a representative image of fungal spores from the scalp scales on the occipital staining with calcofluor white under fluorescence microscope (original magnification, x400); (F) represents the same field as (E) under the light microscopy. (G) a representative image for fungal spores from hair in the rash area on the occipital staining with calcofluor white under fluorescence microscope (original magnification, x400); (H) represents the same field as G under the light microscope.
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case_images: The results revealed the presence of antler-like, separated hyphae and globose spores (Figure 2A). Figure 2B and Supplementary Material 1). Further examination of scalp scrapings and hair from the affected area on the top of scalp showed a significant presence of antler branch hyphae and spherical spores both under a fluorescence microscope (Figure 2C) and a light microscope (Figure 2D).  In the occipital area, spherical spores of varying sizes were observed in the scalp debris under fluorescence microscope (Figure 2E), as well as in corresponding light microscope images (Figure 2F). Hair samples from this area showed the presence of attached spores but no hyphae when examined under a fluorescence microscope (Figure 2G) and a light microscope (Figure 2H).
case_images: The culture results of patients with tinea capitis. (A and B) the image for direct culture of colonies on Sabouraud' s Dextrose agar (SDA) after sampling from the scales on the top of the head and occipital, respectively. (C and D) the image for direct culture of colonies on Modified Dixon agar after sampling from the scales on the top of the head and occipital, respectively. (E) a representative image for purification of colony of Microsporum canis after culture on Sabouraud' s Dextrose agar at 37  C for 1 week. (F) a representative image for purification of colony of Malassezia globosa after culture on Modified Dixon agar at 37 C for 1 week. (G) a representative image for purification of colony of Malassezia furfur after culture on Modified Dixon agar at 37  C for 1 week.
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case_images: The results revealed fast-growing colonies with villous-shaped mycelium on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) from both the parietal region (Figure 3A) and occipital region (Figure 3B). In addition, the colonies on mDixon agar displayed light yellow cheesy colonies and plush filamentous colonies, both from the parietal region (Figure 3C) and occipital region (Figure 3D). The isolated fungi were identified as Microsporum canis (Figure 3E), Malassezia globosa (Figure 3F), and Malassezia furfur (Figure 3G).
case_images: Image showing microscopic observation of Microsporidium canis in the same part of the paddle after 7 days of rice medium culture. (A) Image showing Microsporidium canis under light microscope (original magnification, x400); (B) Image showing Microsporidium canis staining with calcofluor white under fluorescence microscope (original magnification, x400); (C) Image showing Microsporidium canis staining with lactophenol cotton lalue under light microscope (original magnification, x400).
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case_images: Under both a light microscope (Figure 4A) and a fluorescence microscope (Figure 4B), the morphology of the microorganism was observed in the same field of view. Once the entire slide was filled with lactophenol cotton blue dye, the morphology of Microsporum canis was observed under a light microscope in the same field of view as shown in Figure 4A and B. The results revealed clear peripheral contours of the mycelia and conidial morphology (Figure 4C).
case_images: The effect of Malassezia on the growth of Microspora canis in vitro. The experiment included groups: Microspora canis cultured alone, Microspora canis co-cultured with Malassezia globose, and Microspora Canis co-cultured with Malassezia furfur. The strains were inoculated on mDixon agar or Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and incubated at temperatures of 27 C, 30 C, and 37 C for a period of 10 days. The colonies on mDixon agar (A) or SDA (C) were photographed and the diameter of the colonies was measured using the ImageJ software. The diameter of the colonies was measured and recorded on the Y-axis (B and D). To ensure reliability and consistency, the experiment was repeated three times. P is considered significant when <0.05; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 (*Malassezia globosa and Microsporum canis co-culture group VS Microsporum canis group; ^Microsporum canis group VS Malassezia furfur and Microsporum canis co-culture group; +Malassezia furfur and Microsporum canis co-culture group VS Malassezia globosa and Microsporum canis co-culture group).
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case_images: As show in Figure 5A and B, after a 10-day culture period, Malassezia globosa did not growth in mDixonA medium at 27 C, but its growth increased at higher culture temperatures. No growth of Malassezia was observed in SDA medium, and the diameter of Microsporum canis colonies decreased with increasing temperature (Figure 5C and D). 