The back of each animal was depilated manually, and the hairless skin was slightly abraded with a blade. The damaged skin (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm area) was inoculated with 100 l T. rubrum conidia suspension (1.0 × 107conidia/ml). Following inoculation, each animal was i.p. injected with dexamethasone (7.5 mg per kg body weight) daily for 3 days.