Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum (3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.1%), T. rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and was not isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.     

Clinical and epidemiological survey of dermatophytoses in Jaen (Spain)

Prevalence of dermatophytosis, with respect to age and sex and dermatophyte species, in Jaen was investigated during a period of three years (1996-1999). The prevalence of dermatophytosis over three years was 4.48 cases / 1000 inhabitants. The isolated species were: Microsporum canis (48.6%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (27.1%), Epidermophyton floccosum (10%), Trichophyton rubrum (8.6%), Trichophyton violaceum (4.3%), and Microsporum gypseum (1.4%). The most frequently observed dermatophytoses were tinea corporis (62.8%), followed by tinea capitis (12.8%); other clinical forms encountered were, in decreasing order of frequency, tinea cruris, tinea pedis and tinea unguium, tinea faciei and tinea barbae. Men were more affected than women.     

Epidemiology of Dermatophytoses in an Area South of Tehran,Iran

Dermatophyte infections have been considered to be a major public health problem in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to identify the etiological and epidemiological factors of dermatophyte infections in an area south of Tehran. A total of 1254 patients suspected to have dermatophytic lesions were examined over a period of three years (1999-2001). Material collected from skin, hair, and nails was submitted to direct microscopic examination using KOH, cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar and microscopically examined for colony morphology, in order to the identify the 169 dermatophytes isolated. The prevalence of dermatophytoses was 13.5% (95% CI: 11.7-15.5%). Their incidence was 10.6 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 8.5-13.2). Epiderophyton floccosum was the most frequent dermatophyte isolated (31.4%) followed by Trichophyton rubrum (18.3%), T. mentegrophytes (17.2%), T. violaceum (16.6%), Microsporum canis (6.5%), T. verrucosum (4.7%) and M. gypseum (4.1%). Epidermophytes floccosum was found to be the most common isolated dermatophyte in age groups 20-29 (30.2%). Tinea corporis (31.4%) was the most common type of infection, followed by tinea cruris (20.7%), tinea manuum (15.4%), tinea capitis (12.4%), tinea pedis (10.6%), tinea faciei (7.1%), and tinea unguium (2.4%). The frequency rate of all of the types of tinea was higher in males than in females. The anthrophilic species E. floccosum was the most common dermatophyte as a causative agent of tinea. The most prevalent fungal infection was tinea corporis caused by E. floccosum.     

A survey of dermatophytes isolated from human patients in the United States from 1979 to 1981 with chronological listings of worldwide incidence of five dermatophytes often isolated in the United States

A survey of dermatophytes isolated from patients seeking medical advice was made from 1979 to 1981 in the United States. The survey included 54 locations with data from 40 cities and 2 states. Correlations of these data with that of the other localities of the world were made to illustrate the dynamic epidemiology of several common dermatophytes. The most often isolated dermatophyte in this survey was Trichophyton rubrum having 53.66% of the total for these three calendar years. In a chronological listing of ringworm infections caused by this organism, many areas of the world have reported similar increased incidence of this pathogen. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated 27.85% of the total. A dramatic increase of this pathogen as a cause of tinea capitis has been observed in most cities of the United States. It has been isolated in 25 different countries of the world. The percentage of isolation of Trichophyton mentagrophytes was 8.56%. This percentage may not be near the true incidence of infection by this dermatophyte because the infections are mild and respond to treatment without the individual seeking medical advice. Since the 1950s the percentage of isolations of the total has dropped for T. mentagrophytes in the United States. Epidermophyton floccosum accounted for 4.36% of the total. In a few areas of the world it causes over 30% of the total of dermatophytoses. Microsporum canis was isolated 3.72% of the total in the United States. It has recently been reported to be the dominant agent of tinea capitis in several South American countries, Tucson, Arizona and Kuwait. Once the dominant pathogen of tinea capitis in children in the United States, it was replaced by Microsporum audouinii before 1960. Today in the United States, M. audouinii only accounts for 0.30% of the total. It is considered eliminated as a pathogen in England. In this survey, isolated less than 1.0% of the total were Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum ferrugineum, Microsporum nanum, Microsporum fulvum and Trichophyton schoenleinii. Trichophyton meginii and Trichophyton terrestre were reported isolated but no numerical data were available.     

Etiologic and epidemiologic study of dermatomycoses in Navarra (Spain)

We review the etiology of the dermatophytosis in Navarra (Spain) over a 5-year period and it is compared with previous studies. We have isolated 312 strains of dermatophyte fungi in 285 patients (188 men and 97 women). Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated species (58.6%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (26.2%) and Microsporum canis (10.5%). Concerning the location of the lesions, tinea pedis was the clinical pattern found in the greatest number of patients, followed by tinea corporis, tinea unguium and tinea capitis. Twenty eight percent of the isolations were accomplished in October and November. More than half of those patients questioned had had epidemiological contact with animals or practiced sports. The rise of tinea pedis in our region is emphasised. The possible causes of this increment are analyzed and some recommendations for its control are made.     

Three years incidence of dermatophytes in a hospital in Porto (Portugal)

We evaluated the incidence of dermatophytes isolated at our hospital in the years of 1997 to 2000 and correlated it with anatomical site and age. Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species in all anatomical sites, excluding scalp, followed by Microsporum canis, the leading agent of tinea capitis. All dermatophytosis, except tinea capitis by M. canis and Trichophyton schoenleinnii appeared mainly in adult patients. Our results revealed no substantial differences to other portuguese studies regarding the major agents. We found a relatively high incidence of T. schoenleinnii as second tinea capitis agent.     

Dermatophyte Infections in Cairo,Egypt

In this study, we examined dermatophyte infections in patients referred to the Department of Dermatology, EL-Houd El-Marsoud Hospital, Cairo, during March 2004 to June 2005. Of 506 patients enrolled in this investigation, 403 (79.6%) were clinically diagnosed as having dermatophytoses (age range 6–70 years; males 240; females 163). Species identification determined by observation of their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics was complemented with sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region. The most common dermatophyte infection diagnosed was tinea capitis (76.4%), followed by tinea corporis (22.3%) and tinea unguium (1.2%). The most frequently isolated dermatophyte species was Trichophyton violaceum, which accounted for most (71.1%) of all the recovered dermatophytes, followed by Microsporum canis (21.09%), Trichophyton rubrum (6.2%), and Microsporum boullardii (0.49%); both Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton tonsurans were each only rarely isolated (0.24%).     

Strains differentiation of Microsporum canis by RAPD analysis using (GACA)4 and (ACA)5 primers

Molecular analysis of dermatophytes (based on PCR fingerprinting) revealed high clonal differentiation between the genus and species. Microsporum canis (zoophilic dermatophyte, belonging to genus Microsporum), responsible for most cases of tinea capitis in children, tinea corporis in adults and dermatophytoses in cats, is very unique in comparison with other dermatophytes. Results of most molecular studies show that there is no clonal differentiation within M. canis as distinct from other species. The aim of this study was application of (GACA)4 repetitive primer and (ACA)5 primer for typing of M. canis strains isolated from human and animals in Central Poland. Fungal strains: 32 clinical isolates of M. canis, originated from patients from Central Poland; 11 strains isolated from infected cats (6) and dogs (7), reference strains of M. canis (CBS 113480), T rubrum (CBS 120358), T mentagrophytes (CBS 120357) and E. floccosum (CBS 970.95). The genomic DNAs of the strains were used as a template in RAPD reaction. No differentiation was observed for the analyzed M. canis strains using (GACA)4 and (ACA)5 typing.     

126例面癣临床因素及病原菌分析

目的探讨面癣的致病菌种、临床特点及发病相关因素。方法对126例面癣患者进行真菌分离培养鉴定及流行病学分析。结果面癣见于各年龄段,以11～30岁最多见。患病动物接触史、合并其他部位浅部真菌病史及糖皮质类固醇激素类药物外用史是面癣发病的重要危险因素。分离出皮肤癣菌108株,包括红色毛癣菌63株（58．3％）、犬小孢子菌25株（23．1％）、须癣毛癣菌18株（16．7％）和石膏样小孢子菌2株（1．9％）。结论面癣的发病没有年龄差异,患者可见于各个年龄阶段;面癣的常见致病真菌绝大多数为红色毛癣菌和犬小孢子菌,其发病可能与患者自体接种或接触患病动物相关。面癣容易被误诊,及时进行真菌镜检和培养是降低面癣误诊率的关键。     

Epidemiologic study of dermatophyte infections in Nigeria (clinical survey and laboratory investigations)

The commonest dermatophyte infection among the referred dermatology cases in Nigeria is tinea pedis, whereas among the surveyed population of school children, the commonest fungal infection was tinea capitis.It was found that the most ubiquitcus causative organism for tinea pedis was E. fluccosum, that for tinea capitis was M. audouinii, while that for tinea corporis was T. soudanese.The source of infection of tinea capitis among the school children was found to be most likely the local barber who serviced the schools in all the villages, and this might explain the high incidence rate of T. soudanese in tinea capitis. Tinea pedis infection is believed to be highly favoured by the wearing of shoes among the senior students. Animals were not a major source of transmission of dermatophytes in Nigeria.No new species of dermatophytes has been identified among the cultured organisms.     

濮阳市部分浅部真菌病中癣菌和念珠菌混合感染的分析

目的了解濮阳地区部分浅部真菌病中两种及两种以上真菌混合感染的情况。方法对临床确诊为浅部真菌病的患者456例,取标本行10%KOH直接镜检、真菌培养及菌种鉴定。登记确诊患者相关临床资料,分析其中混合感染的发病特点。结果确诊皮肤癣菌和念珠菌混合感染病例36例,分离率为7.89%,多见于股部(58.33%)和足部(27.78%);分离菌株72株,皮肤癣菌中以红色毛癣菌为主(75.00%),念珠菌中以非白念珠菌为主(72.22%)。结论濮阳地区部分浅部真菌病中混合感染主要为皮肤癣菌和念珠菌的混合感染,多见于股部和足部;致病菌以红色毛癣菌和非白念珠菌为主。     

822例浅部真菌病及其致病菌种分析

目的分析新疆乌鲁木齐市浅部真菌病病原菌的流行趋势。方法对2006年1月～2013年12月就诊于我院皮肤科门诊、有典型临床表现、真菌镜检及培养均阳性的822例患者进行致病病种及菌种分析。使用SPSS17．0统计软件对于结果进行统计分析。结果822例患者包括8个病种：体癣214例（26．0％）,足癣131例（15．9％）,头癣128例（15．6％）,甲真菌病125例（15．2％）,股癣119例（14．5％）,手癣54例（6．6％）,皮肤念珠菌病38例（4．6％）,花斑糠疹13例（1．6％）。菌种分布以须癣毛癣菌为首位,336株（40．9％）,其次为红色毛癣菌共239株（29．1％）,犬小孢子菌68株（8．3％）,铁锈色小孢子菌48株（5．8％）,念珠菌38株（4．6％）,断发毛癣菌33株（4．0％）,许兰黄癣菌23株（2．8％）,马拉色菌13株（1．6％）,疣状毛癣菌9株（1．1％）,紫色毛癣菌7株（0．9％）,支顶孢霉菌4株（0．5％）,曲霉、絮状表皮癣菌各2株（各0．2％）。统计学分析显示：不同性别足癣、股癣、甲真菌病及花斑糠疹构成比有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,除体癣及花斑糠疹外,本组其他浅部真菌病的分布在年龄方面有着明显的差别（P〈O．05）。结论乌鲁木齐市浅部真菌病发病率排在前3位的依次为体癣、足癣、头癣,致病病原菌以毛癣菌为主,须癣毛癣菌为首位致病菌,其次为红色毛癣菌。足癣及甲真菌病好发于女性,而股癣及花斑糠疹好发于男性。除体癣及花斑糠疹外,不同年龄段浅部真菌病分布有明显差异,其中头癣主要好发于青少年。     

Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum(3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.%), T . rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and wasnot isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dermatophytes isolated in Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (Madrid, Spain).

Over a 10 year period (January 1988 - December 1997), 3,241 dermatophyte strains were isolated from 18,465 specimens from patients in whom dermatophytosis was suspected clinically. This represents a 17.5% rate of isolation. Trichophyton rubrum (38.44%), Microsporum canis (28.75%), Epidermophyton floccosum (14.5%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (13.5%) were the dominant species, and Trichophyton tonsurans (2.09%) has emerged, whilst in the previous decade it had virtually disappeared. Our study is basically based on an out-patient selected population, and tinea corporis (30.79%), followed by tinea cruris (16.69%) and tinea unguium (16.69%) were the most prevalent clinical forms.     

参照CLSIM38-A方案测定皮肤癣菌临床株对4种抗真菌药物的敏感性

目的测定并比较临床分离的皮肤癣菌对4种常用抗真菌药物的敏感性,探讨CLSIM38-A方案用于皮肤癣菌药敏试验的可行性。方法实验菌株为31株临床近期分离的皮肤癣菌。其中红色毛癣菌14株,须癣毛癣菌14株,犬小孢子菌1株,铁锈色小孢子菌1株,絮状表皮癣菌1株。4种抗真菌药物为益康唑、伊曲康唑、特比萘芬、伏立康唑。采用M38-A方案微量稀释法,并适当调整试验参数进行体外抗真菌药物敏感性试验。结果红色毛癣菌和须癣毛癣菌对以上4种药物的敏感性无明显差异。犬小孢子菌、铁锈色小孢子菌、絮状表皮癣菌对所有4种抗真菌药物的敏感性都低于红色毛癣菌和须癣毛癣菌。结论M38-A方案经过调整适用于皮肤癣菌药敏试验。     

面癣118例的真菌学和临床因素分析

目的探讨面癣的致病菌、临床特点、易感年龄等相关因素。方法分析本院门诊2012年1～6月的真菌直接涂片镜检发现菌丝或孢子的面癣患者。记录患者的一般资料、有无动物接触史、有无并发其他部位浅部真菌病、用药史。取皮屑直接镜检的同时进行真菌培养鉴定。结果面癣见于各年龄段,在51～70岁之间有一个年龄高峰。分离皮肤癣菌103株,包括红色毛癣菌70株(68.0%)、犬小孢子菌21株(20.4%)、须癣毛癣菌10株(9.7%)、石膏样小孢子菌2株(1.9%)。合并其他浅部真菌病、使用激素类药物、动物接触史是面癣发病的重要因素。部分炎症明显的面癣使用医用拭子取材,可以提高真菌涂片和培养的质量。结论不典型的面癣容易误诊,需要高质量的真菌镜检和培养,降低面癣误诊率。     

Dermatophyte and non dermatophyte fungi in Riyadh City,Saudi Arabia

BackgroundDermatophytes are a scientific label for a group of three genera (Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton) of fungus that causes skin disease in animals and humans. Conventional methods for identification of these fungi are rapid and simple but are not accurate comparing to molecular methods.ObjectiveThis study aimed to isolate human pathogenic dermatophytes which cause dermatophytosis in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia and to identify these fungi by using conventional and molecular methods.MethodsThe study was conducted in Medical Complex, Riyadh and King Saud University. Samples of infected skin, hairs and nails were collected from 112 patients. Diagnosis of skin infections, direct microscopic test, isolation and identification of dermatophytes by conventional and molecular methods were carried out.ResultsThe results indicated that the tinea capitis infection had the highest prevalence among the patients (22.3%) while Tinea barbae had the lowest. In this study the identified dermatophyte isolates belong to nine species as Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton concentricum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum audouinii and Epidermophyton floccosum which cause skin infections were isolated during this study. Non dermatophyte isolates included 5 isolates from Aspergillus spp. 4 isolates from Acremonium potronii and 15 isolates from Candida spp. M. canis were the most common species (25% of isolated dermatophytes). Out of the 52 dermatophyte isolates identified by conventional methods, there were 45 isolates identified by the molecular method.ConclusionsThe results concluded that approximately M. canis caused a quarter of dermatophyte cases, tinea capitis infection was prevalent and the molecular method was more accurate than conventional methods.     

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.     

The Changing Face of Dermatophytic Infections Worldwide

Dermatophytes evolve along with the geography and socioeconomic conditions. Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton schoenleinii acted as the major pathogens of superficial fungal diseases 100 years ago, but their frequency decreased dramatically since the middle of the twentieth century and they are limited to some less-developed countries nowadays; meanwhile, frequency of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum canis increased gradually, and these fungi have become the major species globally. Some other dermatophytes, i.e., Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum and Microsporum ferrugineum, are mainly endemic in some parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. At present, T. rubrum is the leading pathogen for skin and nail fungal infections, whereas M. canis, T. tonsurans and T. violaceum present as the predominant dermatophytes involved in tinea capitis. Population mobility, changes in human lifestyle and advents of antifungal drugs will continually drive the dermatophyte evolution in the skin microenvironment. Comprehensive observation is needed to better understand this kind of organisms and prospect the trends of their changes in future.     

Human mycoses in Portugal [1960–1973]

A critical survey is made of human mycoses diagnosed in European Portugal and in the Portuguese Overseas Provinces. Dermatophyte infections and pityriasis versicolor are commom in the entire territory. The more frequently isolated dermatophytes in Continental Portugal wereTrichophyton violaceum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton tonsurans andTrichophyton schoenleinii, in the scalp andTrichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton megninii andEpidermophyton floccosum in the other body sites. In the Overseas Provinces the species found in white people were very much the same, whereas in negroes mainlyMicrosporum audouinii andT. violaceum in Mozambique,M. audouinii in Angola, andTrichophyton soudanense, M. audouinii andT. rubrum in Guinea were identified.In Continental Portugal cases of candidiasis, mycetoma, aspergillosis, sporotrichosis and cryptococcosis were described in patients who had never been outside Europe; and tinea nigra, African histoplasmosis and South-American blastomycosis in individuals who live or lived in India, Africa and Brazil.The first case of North-American blastomycosis was reported in Mozambique.