ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the clinical characteristics, susceptibility factors, and the composition and distribution of pathogenic fungi in Shiyan area. Methods From January 2018 to December 2018, at the outpatient department of Taihe Hospital, a total of 498 patients with superficial mycosis were confirmed by clinical features and microbial identification. Clinical data was collected and statistical analysis of these patients was carried out. Results Among 498 patients, the top three diseases were 123 cases of tinea corporis (24.70%), 110 cases of onychomycosis (22.09%), and 54 cases of body ringworm (10.84%). The top three pathogenic fungi were Trichophyton rubrum (232 strains, 46.59%), Trichophyton interdigitale (71 strains, 14.26%) and Candida albicans (41 strains, 8.23%). There were some differences in the incidence of patients of different genders, ages, and jobs. Conclusion Tinea cruris was the main superficial mycosis in Shiyan area and Trichophyton rubrum was the main pathogen of superficial mycosis. The epidemic trend is similar to that in most regions of the country, but it has its own characteristics.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex is a heterogeneous group. A new classification, based on molecular biology, has replaced the one based on morphology, physiology, and mating behavior. OBJECTIVE: T. mentagrophytes isolates from Korean patients were classified using the new method and compared with the classic classification. METHODS: During 2010-2011, fungal isolates were collected at the Catholic skin clinic from 562 patients infected with T. mentagrophytes; clinical characteristics were reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups based on the morphological characteristics of the isolates. Thirty-four strains of T. mentagrophytes were randomly selected from the four groups for mycological and molecular biology analyses, including analyses of morphological characteristics, ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, and rDNA nontranscribed spacer (NTS) typing. RESULTS: Among the 562 isolates, persicolor (41.6%) was the most common strain type, followed by the powdery (38.4%), downy (11.2%), and granular (8.7%) types. The granular type differed from the other three with respect to the isolation site, patient's age, seasonal variation, and microscopic characteristics. Among the selected 34 strains, the microscopic characteristics varied for each strain. The powdery, persicolor, and downy types had ITS sequences identical to those of the anthropophilic T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii. The ITS sequence of granular type was similar to that of zoophilic T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii. The granular type had different NTS types than the other types did. CONCLUSION: The T. mentagrophytes strains isolated were classified as T. interdigitale/A. vanbreuseghemii; the majority (91.7%) was anthropophilic and 8.3% were zoophilic and granular type.
Subject(s)
Humans , Classification , DNA, Ribosomal , Methods , Molecular Biology , Physiology , Seasons , Skin , TrichophytonABSTRACT
Abstract Tinea faciei is a relatively uncommon dermatophyte infection entailing atypical clinical symptoms, usually misdiagnosed and treated with corticosteroids. The authors describe a case of tinea faciei on the right eyebrow caused by Trichophyton interdigitale. The patient was an 18-year-old girl, who had an inflammatory plaque with a scaly, pustular surface on the right eyebrow and upper eyelid, which had persisted for over 1 month. She was once misdiagnosed as having eczema and was treated using corticosteroid cream. A diagnosis of tinea faciei was made based on direct microscopy and culture. The sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and β-tubulin gene of the isolate established its T. interdigitale lineage. The patient was cured by treatment with systemic terbinafine in combination with topical application of 1% naftifine-0.25% ketaconazole cream for 2 weeks.