马拉色菌相关人群及正常人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌带菌情况的调查

目的调查马拉色菌相关人群及正常人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌带菌情况。方法用结晶紫染色法对96例被调查人群耳耵聍进行马拉色菌检测,同时作培养,并以标准株作对照,用生理生化方法将耵聍中分离到的79株马拉色菌进行分类。结果马拉色菌相关人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌的直接检出率为91．84％（45／49）,培养阳性率为81．63％（40／49）,其中厚皮马拉色菌8株（16．33％）,合轴马拉色菌10株（20．41％）,糠秕马拉色菌22株（44．90％）。正常人群耳耵聍马拉色菌直接检出率为89．36％（42／47）,培养阳性率为78．72％（37／47）,其中厚皮马拉色菌5株（10．64％）,合轴马拉色菌8株（17．02％）,糠秕马拉色菌23株（48．93％）,斯洛菲马拉色菌1株（2．13％）。结论马拉色菌为正常人群及马拉色菌相关人群外耳道正常菌群,两组人群中马拉色菌的分离率和菌种分布无显著性差异。     

Epidemiology of superficial mycosis (tinea pedis, onychomycosis) in elementary school children in Istanbul, Turkey

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis in children of elementary school age and to examine the socio-demographic attributes that may be effective in correlation of both mycoses. 3,390 female and 3,768 male children between ages 6-14 have been examined in seven schools. Skin scrapings and nail samples were taken from 13 students who were suspected to have tinea pedis and from 49 students who were suspected to have onychomycosis. According to direct microscopy (10-15% KOH+calcofluor white) and culturel examination (Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium) 11 students were diagnosed as tinea pedis and 24 were diagnosed as onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated in 3 students with tinea pedis whose culture was positive and five Candida albicans, five Candida glabrata and one Candida tropicalis cases were isolated from 11 samples with onychomycosis. Tinea pedis prevalence has been found to be 3.3%0. Differences between onychomycosis prevalence based on age have been found to be significant (p < 0.001). In conclusion, it has been determined that the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis among children is low. Candida spp. was isolated from all of the 14 samples diagnosed as onychomycosis. Our study shows similar results with previous studies done in Turkey and that Trichophyton rubrum continues to be the most isolated agent.     

Profile of Dermatophytic and Other Fungal Infections in Jaipur

The common cause of skin infections are dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi. Aim of present study is to find predominant etiological agent of dermatophytoses and to isolate various fungal agents from clinical samples of patients with different mycoses and Clinical samples from 260 patients were subjected to potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination and culture isolation; causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically. One hundred sixty three (62.7%) were found to be positive by KOH examination while 132 (50.8%) were culture positive. Dermatophytes were isolated in 90/140 (64.3%) specimens. Trichophyton rubrum (75.5%) was the commonest isolate among the patients suffering from dermatophytoses. Candida spp. and Malassezia furfur were isolated from patient suffering from candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor.     

Onychomycosis in Ceará (Northeast Brazil): epidemiological and laboratory aspects

Knowledge of epidemiological and mycological characteristics of onychomycosis has been noted by many authors as being an important tool for control of these fungal infections. This study seeks to improve knowledge of onychomycosis epidemiology and mycological features. Samples were taken from infected fingernails and toenails of 976 patients undergoing treatment at a respected Dermatology Center in Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Specimens from 512 patients (52%) were positive for onychomycosis. From the culture-positive samples, yeasts of the genus Candida (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis) were dominant. The dermatophytes isolated (Trichophyton rubrum, T. tonsurans, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes) were dominant in 46 patients (12.99%). The mould Fusarium spp. was isolated from 29 patients (8.19%). Yeast of the genus Candida is the main causal factor in onychomycosis in our region. Also, the study showed the importance of performing direct examination and culture in diagnosis of onychomycosis.     

Fungal infection of the feet in soccer players and non-athlete individuals

This study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of mycoses affecting the feet of soccer players and to compare this results with those in non-athlete individuals of the same age and sex. Initial evaluation consisted of a dermatological examination of the foot in 22 Chinese athletes, 83 Brazilian athletes and 24 Brazilian non-athletes. Scales of plantar skin, interdigital and subungual areas of the foot were collected for mycological examination (direct and culture). Nail clippings were obtained for histopathologic analysis. Tinea pedis was diagnosed more frequently among the non-athlete individuals. None of the Chinese athletes had tinea pedis alone. However, in this group onychomycosis was frequently higher when compared to the other groups. The fungal microbiota comprised Trichophyton rubrum (40%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (36.4%) and Candida spp (20%). Candida spp was isolated only from Brazilian athletes. Results obtained with KOH wet mounts agreed with the results obtained in culture and with histopathologic examinations (50.5% vs 40.9%). The frequency of tinea pedis among soccer players was lower than the other groups in this study, possibly due to health education and professional feet care.     

Onychomycosis in Malaysia

The common etiological agents of onychomycosis are dermatophytes, molds and yeasts. A mycological nail investigation of onychomycosis using direct microscopy and culture was conducted by the Mycology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya from March 1996 to November 1998. The study involved 878 nail clippings or subungal scrapings from subjects with onychomycosis. On direct microcopy examination, 50% of the specimens were negative for fungal elements. On culture, 373 specimens had no growth; bacteria were isolated from 15 nail specimens. Among the 490 specimens with positive fungal cultures, 177 (36.1%) were dermatophytes, 173 (35.5%) were molds and 130 (26.5%) were Candida. There were 2% (10/490) mixed infections of molds, yeasts and dermatophytes. Trichophyton rubrum (115/177) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (59/177) were the main dermatophytes isolated. The molds isolated were predominantly Aspergillus niger (61/173), Aspergillus nidulans (30/173), Hendersonula toruloidea (26/173) and Fusarium species (16/173). 96.9% of the Candida species identified were Candida albicans.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Occurrence of Malassezia species in healthy and dermatologically diseased dogs

The presence of Malassezia spp. yeasts was investigated in dermatological specimens of 224 dogs, 164 dermatologically diseased and 60 normal dogs. Subjects included in the study were of different breed, age, sex and habitat. Malassezia spp. positive cultures were obtained in 142 (63.4%) specimens: 67.6% from dermatologically diseased subjects and 51.6% from healthy dogs. Malassezia pachydermatis, either as a pure culture or in association with lipid-dependent species, was identified in 138 (97%) specimens. Malassezia furfur was identified in 69 (48.6%) specimens and was associated with other Malassezia species in 68 dogs, as a pure culture in one subject: at the best of our knowledge, this species was identified before as the sole species from canine dermatitis. Malassezia sympodialis was identified in 11 (7.7%) specimens, always in association with other species: it was never isolated from kennel dogs. Statistical analysis of data showed a very significant difference (P < 0.01) in the prevalence of isolation of Malassezia spp. between animals with and without dermatological signs, and in the distribution of cultural burden between diseased and healthy dogs. A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was also detected in the group of animals between 1- and 5-years of age. No significant difference was found between male and female dogs.     

Onychomycosis in Cali,Colombia

This study presents the epidemiological and mycological aspects of 299 patients with nail lesions who were referred to three diagnostic laboratories in the city of Cali. The diagnosis of mycoses was established through visualization of mycotic structures in a direct microscopic examination of skin scrapings and by isolation. Onychomycosis was found in 183 cases (61.2%), of which 141 were in toenails (44 in males and 97 in females), 38 in fingernails (9 males and 29 females), and 4 cases in toenails and fingernails simultaneously (all females). No statistically significant relation was found between sex and onychomycosis. Yeasts accounted for 40.7% of the mycoses, dermatophytes for 38%, nondermatophyte molds for 14% and the etiology was mixed in the remaining cases (7.3%). Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated yeast species; the most common dermatophyte was Trichophyton rubrum and Fusarium spp. and Scytalidium dimidiatum were the most common nondermatophytic molds. Them common fungi found in fingernails were yeasts; in toenails dermatophytes were more prevalent (chi2 with Yates' correction = 19.75, P= 0.000088). Yeasts were observed more frequently in females while dermatophytes were more common in males. The difference between these two etiologic groups was statistically significant (chi2 with Yates' correction = 7.43, P = 0.0064); no relation was observed according to age.     

Toenail Onychomycosis in a Portuguese Geriatric Population

Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection of the nail but few data of mycological features in geriatric Portuguese population are yet available. The aim of this study was to perform a mycological examination and characterization of fungal nail pattern of a geriatric population from the north of Portugal clinically suspected of onychomycosis. A total of 108 patients attending the Podology Service in the Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave (Portugal) from October 2007 to January 2009 were enrolled. All were suspected of having onychomycosis by the abnormal appearance of their nails. From these, 59.3% were diabetic. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis was the more common clinical pattern followed by total dystrophic onychomycosis. In 21.3% cases, every nail in both feet had an abnormal appearance. In 86%, the hallux was involved in at least one foot. Fifty samples were culture positive, and fifty-four isolates were reported regardless of the questionable pathogenicity of the infectious agent. In three cases, clinical feature of the nail, direct microscopy, and culture were consistent with Scopulariopsis infection. Fusarium spp. were identified in three cases; however, only one isolate was preceded by the observation of branching septate filaments by direct microscopy. No mixed infections with dermatophytes were reported. Trichophyton rubrum was the dermatophyte most frequently isolated (83.3%) followed by Trichophyton interdigitale. In Portugal, onychomycosis is still viewed by general population as a cosmetic condition. Health risk is enhanced in geriatrics that only perceived the severity of their condition when experiencing further foot complications that include bacterial infection and pain.     

Onychomycosis in Rome,Italy

This report presents the results of a study conducted between 1985 and 1994 on onychomycosis observed in the city of Rome. Six thousand six hundred and eighty eight patients were examined during this period. Among them 1,762 (26.3%) were affected by fungal nail infections. Because the etiologic agents could not be isolated in 105 cases (6%), the results refer to 1,657 subjects (24.8% of the total), presenting with positive microscopic and cultural examinations. Thirty eight patients (2.3%) had onychomycosis of both their hands and feet.From an etiological point of view, 59.1% of the nail infections were caused by yeasts, 23.2% were infected with dermatophytes and 17.6% by non-dermatophytic fungi. The etiology of onychomycosis of the hands differed from that of the feet. Yeasts were primarily responsible for onychomycosis of the hands (86.2%), while dermatophytes caused tinea unguium peduum (48%). Fungal fingernail infections by Candida spp. were the most common (50.3%), followed by those of the feet by dermatophytes (20%). Candida albicans was responsible for 70.6% of the hand infections but for only 15.9% of those of the feet. Trichophyton rubrum and T mentagrophytes were the most common dermatophytes, mainly causing toenail infections (23.4% and 21%, respectively), while Aspergillus spp., Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Acremonium spp. and Aspergillus niger were the most common non-dermatophytes observed.With regard to sex, the fungal nail infections were more widespread in women (72.1%) and in subjects of both sexes over the age of 50.     

浅部真菌病1948份临床标本的真菌学分析

目的 通过对浅部真菌病患者临床送检标本的病原真菌菌种进行系统分析,了解感染及病原真菌的分布情况。方法 采用直接镜检、培养及真菌鉴定等方法对临床送验标本进行检验和鉴定,大部分标本鉴定到种。结果 1948份临床送验标本中,直接涂片镜检阳性率53．41％,培养阳性率40．28％,而镜检＋培养的阳性率为66．98％。对上述3种方法的真菌检出率进行比较,均存在显著差异（χ^2检验P均〈0．005）。在培养的1944份标本中,共分离出18个属,36种真菌,其中,红色毛癣菌24．52％、须癣毛癣菌16．48％、白念珠菌12．64％。结论 ①镜检结合培养的阳性率显著高于单一的镜检或培养的阳性率。②在患者即时的真菌镜检阴性时,应选择培养方法进一步检测,不轻易排除浅部真菌病感染可能。③皮肤癣菌居患者浅部真菌病致病菌首位,而白念珠菌及酵母类菌也是重要病原菌。     

Study of onychomycosis in Córdoba,Spain: Prevailing fungi and pattern of infection

From a total of 20 004 patients seen during two years, we carried out a mycologic nail investigation (direct microscopy and repeated cultures). Ninety-three (43.2%) of the nails were judged to be infected by their clinical appearance. They fulfilled the laboratory criteria required to start antifungal treatment (isolation of the same fungus in culture on two consecutive occasions), but only in 64 cases (29.7%) was there a clinical and mycological recovery once antifungal treatment and follow up were completed.Yeasts were isolated in two thirds of the cases of onychomycosis, mainly from fingernails. Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis or both were the most prevalent species. Dermatophytes were found in 18.8% of the samples, especially from toenails. Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species. Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi were cultured in 17.2%, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis being the most prevalent species.The highest prevalence of onychomycosis was found in patients between 50 and 70 years of age. Females were affected more frequently than males. Fingernails were affected more frequently than toenails. Proximal subungual onychomycosis, secondary to paronychia (PSOp), was the most prevalent clinical type, although primary distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO) and total dystrophic onychomycosis (TDO) were also frequent. PSOp was only observed in fingernails, while DLSO was almost only seen in toenails and TDO in both fingernails and toenails. All the clinical types were more frequent in women except TDO, which showed a similar prevalence in both sexes.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

威海地区547例甲真菌病真菌培养结果分析

目的了解山东省威海地区甲真菌病的临床分类、菌种构成等流行情况。方法对547例镜检阳性的甲真菌病患者进行真菌培养、鉴定和临床分析。结果547例患者中真菌培养阳性423例,阳性率77.3%,远端侧位甲下型甲真菌病(DLSO)295例(53.9%),白色浅表型甲真菌病(SWO)36例(6.5%),近端侧位甲下型甲真菌病(PSO)78例(14.2%),全甲营养不良型甲真菌病(TDO)138例(25.2%)。共分离出429株真菌,其中皮肤癣菌354株(82.5%),酵母菌61株(14.2%),非皮肤癣菌霉菌14株(3.3%)。结论山东省威海地区甲真菌病病原体的分布以皮肤癣菌为主,其次为酵母菌和非皮肤癣菌霉菌,红色毛癣菌是最常见的皮肤癣菌,临床类型以DLSO型居多,其他依次是TDO、PSO、SWO。就诊人群中以20～50岁年龄段为最多见。     

Diabetes mellitus and candidiases

Patients in various clinical states of diabetes mellitus (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association) as a primary diagnosis were examined for fungal infections by Candida species. Candida spp. were detected in urine, in the material taken from the mouth cavity, nails, skin lesions, ears and eyes, by cultivation on the Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar Candida, and by saccharide assimilation. In the group of diabetics with symptoms of oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis C. albicans was identified in 8 cases, C. tropicalis in 3, C. parapsilosis in 2; 1 strain of C. guilliermondii was also isolated. In patients with urinary tract infections the presence of C. albicans was shown in 12 cases; C. parapsilosis was detected in 6 cases and two strains of each C. tropicalis and C. krusei were also isolated. In patients with leg ulcers C. albicans (25 cases), C. parapsilosis (5), C. tropicalis (3) and one strain of each C. krusei and C. robusta were isolated. Otomycosis was associated with one strain of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. C. albicans was most frequently associated with onychomycosis, paronychia and endophthalmitis; C. parapsilosis was the second most rated yeast.     

Prevalence ofCandida ciferrii in elderly patients with trophic disorders of the legs

In order to define the prevalence ofCandida ciferrii in onychomycosis, the fungal biota associated with toe nail onyxis was examined in 50 elderly patients with trophic disorders of the legs and in 220 patients without clinical evidence of trophic disorders.Candida ciferrii was more frequent in the first group of patients since it was recovered from 24% of these patients, whereas its prevalence was only 1.4% in the control group. Moreover, the positivity of the direct examination of toe nail scrapings, the absence of any other associated pathogens, and the repeated isolation of this yeast species for some of the patients confirmed its pathogenicity.Abbreviations 5-FC 5-fluorocytosine - IHEM Institut d'Hygiène et d'Epidémiologie, Section Mycologie - YPDA yeast extract-peptone-dextrose-agar     

A Review of Onychomycosis Due to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> Species

Aspergillus spp. are emerging causative agents of non-dermatophyte mould onychomycosis (NDMO). New Aspergillus spp. have recently been described to cause nail infections. The following criteria are required to diagnose onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp.: (1) positive direct microscopy and (2) repeated culture or molecular detection of Aspergillus spp., provided no dermatophyte was isolated. A review of 42 epidemiological studies showed that onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. varies between < 1 and 35% of all cases of onychomycosis in the general population and higher among diabetic populations accounting for up to 71% and the elderly; it is very uncommon among children and adolescence. Aspergillus spp. constitutes 7.7–100% of the proportion of NDMO. The toenails are involved 25 times more frequently than fingernails. A. flavus, A. terreus and A. niger are the most common aetiologic species; other rare and emerging species described include A. tubingensis, A. sydowii, A. alliaceus, A. candidus, A. versicolor, A. unguis, A. persii, A. sclerotiorum, A. uvarum, A. melleus, A. tamarii and A. nomius. The clinical presentation of onychomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. is non-specific but commonly distal–lateral pattern of onychomycosis. A negative culture with a positive KOH may point to a NDM including Aspergillus spp., as the causative agent of onychomycosis. Treatment consists of systemic therapy with terbinafine or itraconazole.     

Onychomycosis in Tehran,Iran: Prevailing fungi and treatment with itraconazole

A total of 187 Patients with suspected onychomycosis were examined for causative fungal agents between 1996 and 1997. Laboratory examination confirmed onychomycosis in 115 patients, of which 97 cases were presented with positive microscopic and cultural examinations, and they were selected for itraconazole pulse therapy. From an etiological point of view, 48.4% of the nail infections, mainly toenail infections, were caused by dermatophytes, 43.3% were infected with Candida spp, specially infected fingernails, and 8.2% by non-dermatophytic molds. Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigital and T. violaceum were the most prevalent species. Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis were the predominant species of the Genus Candida. Scopolariopsis brevicaulis was the most common non-dermatophyte molds observed. Female affected more frequently than male and in both sexes, those who were 30–49 years old, more infected. Toenails were affected more frequently than fingernails. In this study, itraconazole pulse therapy (400 mg daily) gave during the first week of per month for 3 months. The study included 51 patients with toenail onychomychosis (group 1) and 46 patients with fingernail infections (group 2). Patients were followed up for 9 months after the last treatment. Clinical response rates were 83% in the group 1, 95% in the group 2 at month 12; the corresponding mycological cure rates were 71 and 87%, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mycological study of 100 cases of ungual lesions of Rosario city (Republica Argentina)

The aim of present work was to analyze several diagnostic methods of nail infections relating to various etiological agents with the different types of lesions and their probable predisposing causes. One hundred nail samples were studied including the following laboratory test: Direct microscopic exams with 40% KOH, direct exams in fluorescence microscope with calcoflúor white and mycological cultures. One or more of these methods gave positive results in 65% of the samples tested. The fungi isolated by culture were the following: Candida (predominantly non-albicans, which appeared in 70.8% of the cases), dermatophytes (25% of the cases) and opportunistic fungi (4.2%). Females showed a higher incidence of fungal infection. Candida were more frequent in finger nails, while dermatophytes occurred mainly in toe nails. The clinical characteristic of the lesions produced by Candida were: tricophytoid type (67%) and periungeal type (33%). On the other hand, dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi produced distal subungual type lesions. Since correlation between direct examination and cultures is not always found in mycological studies, based in our present results we suggest that, although they must always be carried out, both should be repeated with the addition of direct examination with calcoflúor in the cases in which the diagnosis is difficult.     

297例浅部真菌病临床及病原菌菌种分析

目的 探讨皮肤浅部真菌病致病真菌菌种的构成.方法 对297例真菌涂片阳性和培养阳性的浅部真菌病患者,取标本进行分离培养及菌种鉴定,培养阳性标本在形态学上不能准确鉴定的,进行梅里埃API 20C AUX酵母菌鉴定试剂盒或核糖体DNA （rDNA） ITS区序列测定,确切鉴定菌种.使用SPSS 17.0统计软件对于结果进行统计分析.结果 共分离培养出致病菌13种,其中红色毛癣菌86株（29.0％）,须癣毛癣菌68株（22.9％）,念珠菌属59株（19.9％）,暗色真菌属13株（4.4％）,曲霉菌属13株（4.4％）,红酵母菌12株（4.0％）,青霉菌属9株（3.0％）,毛霉菌9株（3.0％）,犬小孢子菌5株（1.7％）,浅白隐球菌3株（1.0％）,毛孢子菌属2株（0.7％）,絮状表皮癣菌1株（0.3％）,混合感染17株（5.7％）.结论 本地区浅部真菌病以甲癣为主,主要致病真菌是红色毛癣菌,但其他种类真菌感染尤其是念珠菌属有明显上升趋势.     

Fusarium Nail and Skin Infection: A Report of Eight Cases from Natal, Brazil

Fusarium spp. are non-dermatophytic hyaline moulds distributed worldwide and recovered from the nature as soil saprophytes and plant pathogens. Human infections are usually precipitated by local or systemic predisposing factors and disseminated infection is associated with impaired immune responses. We report eight cases of cutaneous lesions caused by Fusarium spp. All patients were immunocompetent. Seven cases with presented onychomycosis and one patient with interdigital intertrigo. It is important to alert the medical community about the relevance of the opportunistic fungi, such as Fusarium spp., which have emerged as human infectious agents, emphasizing the importance of correct etiological identification, allowing for appropriate treatment.