We studied dermatophyte infections in patients attending the Dermatology Outpatients Clinic of S. Matteo hospital Pavia, Italy, during the period 2004-2006. A total of 100 samples were collected from 95 patients; 97 dermatophytes and 3 keratinophylic fungi were isolated. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequent dermatophyte isolated (42.3%), followed by Microsporum canis (31%), T. mentagrophyt...

Dermatophytes are a group of filamentous fungi that cause infections of the skin (see Figure 1 for diseases, Figure 2 for typical dermatophyte species). Diseases caused by dermatophytes include athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, and nail infections (onychomycosis). The medical terminology for dermatophyte infections is to use the word tinea (to denote a fungal infection of the skin) followed ...

In the years 1977-1996 103 cases of mycosis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans with lesions in a variety of locations were treated. T. tonsurans was most often cultured from the feet (61.2%), and toe nails (22.3%), although smaller quantities were also obtained from other locations. In 1990, an endemic focus of superficial ringworm of the hairless skin caused by T. tonsurans was observed in 23 vi...

BACKGROUND Tinea capitis (TC) is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp that can also involve the eyebrows and eyelashes. AIM This study aimed to find the causative fungus responsible for TC in Botswana and determine its association with the clinical types of TC. METHODS Samples for potassium hydroxide 10% mounts and fungal cultures were collected in a microbiology laboratory at the N...

BACKGROUND Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi worldwide, which can infect the skin, hair and nails of humans and animals. This genus includes several species that present different features of dermatophytosis. Although, laboratory diagnosis of dermatophytes is based on direct microscopy, biochemical tests and culture, these manners are expensive, time consuming and need skilled s...

Since traditional diagnosis of dermatophyte infections is slow, we present a rapid new PCR test for detection of Trichophyton spp., Microsporum canis and M. audouinii infections. The performance of the test was evaluated with: 58 dermatophyte isolates; 10 yeast, mould and human DNA control samples; 25 routine specimens from patients suspected of having dermatophytosis; 10 hair specimens from gu...

BACKGROUND Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is involved in dermatophyte-induced scratching and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release from keratinocytes. We investigated whether PAR2-mediated LTB4 production is involved in dermatophyte-induced scratching. METHODS Dermatophyte extract was injected intradermally and scratching was observed in mice. LTB4 was determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESU...

OBJECTIVE To determine the role and pattern of non-dermatophyte moulds as causative agents of onychomycosis. STUDY DESIGN Case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from November 2009 to July 2010. METHODOLOGY Nail clippings and nail scrapings were obtained from abnormal looking nails with treatment and dete...

Infection of the keratinised tissues (skin, hair and nails) in man and animals by keratinophilic fungi (dermatophytes) results in dermatophytosis (also known as tinea or ringworm). As conventional laboratory procedures for the identification of dermatophytes are either slow or lack specificity, improved diagnostic methods are required. The application of nucleic acid amplification technology ha...