Distribution of Species of Dermatophyte Among Patients at a Dermatology Centre of Nghean Province, Vietnam, 2015-2016.

INTRODUCTION: Vietnam is a tropical country so fungal diseases including dermatophytosis may be prevalent, but epidemiological profiles of agents responsible for the infection have rarely been reported. OBJECTIVE: To find out the distribution of dermatophytes among patients living in a central province of Vietnam. METHODS: We examined dermatophyte infections in patients with lesions suspected of dermatophytosis referred to the Nghean provincial leprosy and dermatology centre from August 2015 to August 2016. The speciation of dermatophyte was performed by conventional and molecular approaches. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six patients (90 males and 46 females) were included. Those aged from 11 to 30 contribute 59.1%. The most common agent found was Trichophyton rubrum (66.9%), followed by T. interdigitale (12.5%), T. tonsurans (9.6%), Microsporum incurvatum (8.1%), and the less frequent species were M. canis (2.2%) and T. violaceum (0.7%). Epidermophyton floccosum was not reported. T. rubrum were more common in men (74.4%) than in women (52.2%), while T. interdigitale and M. incurvatum were more common in women (21.7 and 15.2%) than in men (7.8 and 4.4%). Patients infected with Microsporum spp. had small-sized lesions for only 3 months, while those affected by Trichophyton spp. had large-sized lesions with longer duration. CONCLUSION: Trichophyton species are the predominant agents of infection in Nghean province, while Epidermophyton species is absent. Additional investigations are required to clarify the epidemiological profile of dermatophytes in Vietnam.

Trichophyton rubrum onychomycosis in an 8-week-old infant.

An 8-week-old infant presented with 7 weeks history of nail involvement and discoloration. Lesions started over the middle fingernail of right hand at 1 week of age, spreading over to other nails within 2 weeks. Only two nails of the feet were spared. On KOH examination, fungal hyphae were seen and culture showed growth of Trichophyton rubrum. The purpose is to report the earliest case of onychomycosis having multiple nail involvement of fingers and toes (18 nails).

Tinea capitis in the pediatric population: a study from North India.

BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis (TC) is a common superficial fungal infection seen predominantly in children. The etiological factors vary from one region to the other. The clinical and microbiological characteristics of the same were studied in patients up to the age of 12 years seen at a pediatric super specialty hospital in New Delhi, India. AIMS: To delineate the various patterns of TC observed in North India and to assess for any correlation between the clinical, microscopic and microbiologic findings in the patients seen. Also, to identify the common fungal species responsible for producing TC in North India. METHODS: Clinical morphology and KOH findings were studied in 214 patients with the suspected diagnosis of TC. Fungal culture were also performed for all the cases. An attempt was made to evaluate any correlation among the clinical, microscopic and etiological findings. The epidemiological factors associated with the disease were also assessed. RESULTS: TC was found to be most common in the 8-10-year age group, with noninflmmatory TC being the more common type (56.5%). A mixed morphological pattern was recorded in 10% of the cases. Microscopic examination revealed an endothrix pattern of hair invasion to be more common (41.5% cases). Again, 8.8% of the cases showed foci of both endothrix and ectothrix pattern of invasion simultaneously. Trichophyton violaceum was the most common fungal species isolated. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, clinical morphology or KOH findings were not found to be clearly or exclusively predictive of the species involved. There was a fair degree of overlap in the clinical or microscopic patterns produced by the fungal species. Mixed patterns were observed both on clinical examination as well as on KOH examination. However, none of the specimens grew more than one fungal species.

Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in Tehran, Iran, from 2000 to 2005.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous fungal infections are common in Tehran, Iran, and causative organisms include dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophyte molds. The prevalence of superficial mycosis infections has risen to such a level that skin mycoses now affect more than 20-25% of the world's population, making them the most frequent form of infection. AIMS: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of superficial cutaneous fungal infections especially dermatophytosis in our Medical Mycology Laboratory in the Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran. METHODS: A total of 17,573 specimens were collected from clinically suspected tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea capitis, tinea faciei, tinea pedis, tinea manuum and finger and toe onychomycosis from 2000 to 2005. Patients were referred to our laboratory for direct examination, fungal culture and identification. The incidence of each species was thus calculated. RESULTS: Dermatophytes remain the most commonly isolated fungal organisms, except from clinically suspected finger onychomycosis, in which case Candida species comprise >7% of the isolates. Epidermophyton floccosum remains the most prevalent fungal pathogen and increased incidence of this species was observed in tinea cruris. Trichophyton tonsurans continues to increase in incidence. CONCLUSION: This study identifies the epidemiologic trends and the predominant organisms causing dermatophytosis in Tehran, Iran. These data can be used to ascertain the past and present trends in incidence, predict the adequacy of our current pharmacologic repertoire and provide insight into future developments. Consideration of the current epidemiologic trends in the incidence of cutaneous fungal pathogens is of key importance to investigational effort, diagnosis and treatment.

Dermatophytosis: association between ABO blood groups and reactivity to the trichophytin / Dermatofitose: associação entre grupos sanguíneos ABO e reatividade à tricofitina

The authors investigated the relationship between dermatophytosis and ABO blood groups through blood typing, identification of isolated dermatophytes and specific cellular immune response of 40 individuals carriers of this mycosis. They verified that the fungus Trichophyton rubrum, isolated from 54.5 percent of the patients, was more frequent in individuals belonging to blood group A. The cellular immune response, evaluated through the trichophytin antigen, was positive in 25 percent of the studied patients; the presence of immediate reactions (30 minutes) was verified in 35 percent. The blood group distribution among patients with dermatophytosis and control groups was, respectively: 47.5 percent X 36 percent in group A, 40 percent X 50 percent in group O, 12.5 percent X 11 percent in group B. Even though the authors have found a higher number of patients belonging to blood group A infected by T. rubrum, these results suggest that there is no statistical evidence that these individuals are more susceptible to dermatophytosis

Os autores investigaram a relação entre dermatofitose e grupos sanguíneos ABO por meio da tipagem sanguínea, identificação de dermatófitos isolados e resposta imune celular específica de 40 indivíduos portadores dessa micose. Verificaram que o fungo Trichophyton rubrum, isolado de 54,5 por cento dos pacientes, era mais frequente em indivíduos pertencentes ao grupo sanguíneo A. A resposta imune celular, avaliada pelo antígeno tricofitina, foi positiva em 25 por cento dos pacientes estudados; a presença de reações imediatas (30 minutos) foi verificada em 35 por cento. A distribuição do grupo sanguíneo entre os pacientes com dermatofitose e grupos controle foi, respectivamente: 47,5 por cento X 36 por cento no grupo A, 40 por cento X 50 por cento no grupo O, 12,5 por cento X 11 por cento no grupo B. Mesmo que os autores encontraram um maior número de pacientes pertencentes ao grupo sanguíneo A infectado por T. rubrum, estes resultados sugerem que não há evidências estatísticas de que esses indivíduos sejam mais suscetíveis à dermatofitose

[Study of the contamination by dermatophytes of a population of small wild mammals in Alsace]. / Etude sur la contamination par les champignons dermatophytes d'une population de petits mammifèrs sauvages in Alsace

Mature fruit-bodies of Coprinus congregatus grown on modified Bille-Hansen medium were obtained with concentrations of glucose ranging from 5 to 40 g/l and asparagine from 0 to 4 g/l; the carbon/nitrogen ratio varying from 13 to 100. When the ratio C/N is too high (above 100), no visible primordium is formed; when this ratio is under 13, numerous primordia are produced, but they never reach maturity. A positive correlation exists between the C2/N ratio and the time required for producing mature fruit-bodies. The best yield for basidiocarps production is reached when the C/N ratio value is around 30 and glucose concentrations range from 10 to 20 g/l.

Tinea incognito.

Fourteen cases are described in which the local application of corticosteroid preparations to ringworm infections of the skin have resulted in unusual clinical pictures. A kerion-like lesion due to Trichophyton rubrum, intertriginous infections simulating candidiasis and due to Epidermophyton floccosum, and pictures resembling poikiloderma, papular rosacea, and indeterminate leprosy are among the changes that were seen in these patients.