Historical aspects of dermatomycoses.

Physicians have been aware of superficial fungal infections for centuries, but the causal agents and treatments of fungal infections remained unknown until the mid-1800s, when numerous important findings were reported. Among the relevant researchers in the field of superficial mycoses were Remak, who found the fungal nature of favus in 1837; Berg, who reported oral candidosis in 1841; and Wilkinson, who described vaginal candidosis in 1849. Tinea versicolor was described clinically in 1846 by Eichstedt, and its etiologic agent was identified in 1853. Beigel reported white piedra in 1856, and Cerqueira, tinea nigra in 1891. The book Les Tiegnes was published by Sabouraud in 1910, and black piedra infection was described by Horta in 1911. In 1927, Nannizzi reported the description of the sexual state of Microsporum gypseum. The current classification of dermatophytes was published by Emmons in 1934, and the taxonomy of yeast fungi was described by Lodder and Kreger-van Rij in 1952. Finally, the successful treatment of tinea capitis with griseofulvin by Gentles in 1958 saved many patients with tinea capitis from permanent hair loss, a common side effect after treatment with thallium. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

White piedra and Trichosporon species in equatorial Africa. I. History and clinical aspects: an analysis of 449 superficial inguinal specimens.

White piedra is a hair infection characterized by nodules composed of fungal elements which envelop the hair shaft. Classically, this infection was considered to be produced by an asexual yeast-like fungus, Trichosporon beigelii. At present, in accordance with studies carried out previously, this species is subdivided into six newly defined distinct species (T. asahii, T. ovoides, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. asteroides and T. cutaneum), all belonging to the class Basidiomycetes. Although widespread, white piedra has not previously been described in tropical regions of Africa. The present study, carried out in Libreville (Gabon), an equatorial region of Africa, shows that the incidence of this infection is quite high (18% of 449 inguinal specimens) in the female population aged 15-60 years, with a predominance in young patients (15-44 years). The relationship between the clinical manifestations and the specific hair lesions is also detailed. Three species belonging to the genus Trichosporon were identified: T. mucoides, T. asahii and T. inkin.