ABSTRACT
A total of 68 soil samples was collected from "favelas" (slums), schools, public squares, beaches and vacant lots in the city of João Pessoa-PB, Brazil. A search for dermatophytes in these soils was carried out by using the Vanbreuseghem technique. As a result, 48 strains and 6 dermatophytes species were isolated. Trichophyton terrestre (25.0%), Microsporum gypseum (20.8%) and Anthroderma gypsea (2.1%) were identified among the geophilic species, and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (37.5%) among the zoophilic species and T. tonsurans (4.2%), among the anthropophilic species. The growth of 75% of dermatophytes occurred in alkaline pH (7.02-9.00) and their presence in the soil should not be underestimated, since some of the identified species are aetiological agents of dermatophytoses in humans and animals.
Se informan los resultados obtenidos tras la búsqueda de dermatofitos utilizando la técnica de Vanbreuseghem en un total de 68 muestras de suelo recolectadas de favelas, escuelas, plazas, playas y sitios deshabitados en la ciudad de João Pessoa, PB, Brasil. Se aislaron 48 cepas pertenecientes a 6 especies distintas de dermatofitos a partir de estos suelos. Dentro de las especies geofílicas fueron identificadas Trichophyton terrestre (25,0%), Microsporum gypseum (20,8%) y Anthroderma gypsea (2,1%); dentro de las zoofílicas, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (37,5%) y entre las antropofílicas T. tonsurans (4,2%). El crecimiento del 75% de los dermatofitos se dio a pH alcalino (7,02-9,00). Se concluye que la presencia de estos dermatofitos en el suelo no debería ser subestimada, dado que algunas de las especies identificadas son agentes de dermatofitosis para los humanos y los animales.
Subject(s)
Arthrodermataceae/isolation & purification , Soil Microbiology , Brazil , Urban HealthABSTRACT
Onychomycosis epidemiology is a combination of various factors which include, among others, clinical presentation, etiologic agents of the infection and the patient's history background. Out of a total of 672 nail samples examined, 460 (68.4) were microscopy positive for fungi and 306 (66.5) of these were culture positive, including Candida (82), dermatophytes (13.4), Trichosporon spp (3.6) and nondermatophyte molds (1). Onychomycosis was more frequent in females (79.7) than in males (20.3). These were more common in fingernails (96.1) than in toenails (60) and yeasts were the most isolated etiologic agents. Among the clinical presentations, paronychia (CP) (57.2) and onycholysis (CO) (24.8) were the most common, caused frequently by C. albicans in 52.6 and 60.5 of the cases, respectively. T. rubrum (44.4) and Trichosporon spp (22.2) were the most frequent species in the case of distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO). Fusarium spp was the agent responsible for 33.3 of the cases of proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) and for 14.3 of white superficial onychomycosis (WSO), whereas Acremonium spp was responsible for 14.3 of the cases of WSO.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Onychomycosis , Acremonium , Aged, 80 and over , Brazil , Candida albicans , Candidiasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Candidiasis, Cutaneous/microbiology , Fingers , Fusarium , Nails , Onychomycosis , Paronychia , Prevalence , Tinea , Toes , Trichosporon , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
Piedra negra é uma infecção causada por um ascomiceto, Piedraia Hortae que se caracteriza pelo aparecimento no terço distal dos cabelos de nódulos fusiformes de consistência dura e coloração preta constituídos por massas compactas e organizadas de fungos. No homem, a piedra negra ocorre em regiões tropicais e subtropicais com precipitações pluviais abundantes, temperaturas elevadas e alta umidade do ar. No presente trabalho, os autores apresentam seis casos de piedra negra observados em pacientes atendidos no Laboratório de Micologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba - Paraíba - Brasil.