Epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the metropolitan area of Turin

The study here presented deals with the problem of the dermatophytoses in Piedmont, with regard to their etiologic and, more generally, their epidemiologic aspects. From 586 patients who presented themselves at the Dermatology Clinic of the University of Turin, for mycological examinations, between the period of March–November 1979, 100 positive cases were selected. The study was set under way with the filling in of special forms for the epidemiologic investigation and with the classification of some species of fungi which had been isolated beforehand, using the methods of Ajello, Rebell and Taplin (1, 12). From the data collected, it was ascertained that the principal etiologic agents isolated were, in order of frequency: Microsporum canis, Tricophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and T. mentagrophytes. The subjects that were affected most by these dermatophytes were the young (babies and schoolchildren) with the location of the infections being mostly in the scalp. As regards the period of manifestation, May–June and September–October were the periods with the highest incidence. It is noteworthy that the diffusion of the principal dermatophytes could be attributed to domestic animals such as cats and dogs.