Mycetismus in Hamadan, of west Iran.

Mycetismus or mushroom poisoning is defined in Anisworth and Brisby's Dictionary of the Fungi as distress resulting from the consumption of a fungal organism. This is in contrast to mycotoxicosis where the fungus, usually a hyphomycete, acts on some foodstuff of humans or animals and alters it. The paper describes three incidents of poisoning by the mushroom Amanita virosa in the Hamadan region of Iran. Two poisoning incidents occurred in adults and one in a child. All patients were associated with severe gastrointestinal symptoms including profuse diarrhea, vomiting and intestinal pain. For identification of A. virosa, in addition to the case history and the symptoms, examination of kitchen waste was done and mushroom remains examined with 2% aqueous KOH, Melzer's reagent, using the identification keys of Bresinsky. Because this fungus is likely to be confused with edible mushrooms and mushroom hunting is a popular endeavor in some areas of the Hamadan region, it is important to educate people about the dangers involved.

A study of dermatophytoses in Hamadan, the governmentship of West Iran.

In order to determine the extent and causative agents of dermatophytoses in the Hamadan region of West Iran; a study was made during a 9-month period from October 1991 to June 1992. A total of 7495 individuals were studied of whom 681 (9%) were suspect of having cutaneous mycoses. Among them dermatophytoses were the commonest infections (259/681 = 38%). Of 259 individuals infected with dermatophytes, tinea capitis were observed in 163 (62.9%); t. corporis in 27 (10.4%); t. manuum and t. cruris in 19 (7.3%) each; t. barbae and faciei in 14 (5.4%); t. pedis in 13 (5%) and t. unguium in 4 (1.5%). A total of 144 patients yielded dermatophyte cultures. The frequency of the isolated species in decreasing order was as follows: Trichophyton verrucosum, 78 (54.1%); T. schoenleinii, 48 (33.3%); Microsporum canis, 8 (5.5%); Epidermophyton floccosum, 5 (3.5%); T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum, 2 (1.4%) each; T. tonsurans, 1 (0.7%). In conclusion, the most prevalent dermatophytosis in this region was t. capitis with the infecting agent of T. schoenleinii.