Tinea capitis continues to be a common problem of infancy and childhood, particularly among those living in unhygienic crowded conditions. The prevalence and aetiology of tinea capitis have not been well defined in Anambra state of Nigeria - hence the need to undertake this study. A total of 47,723 primary school children residing in different regions of the State was screened for tinea capitis between 2002 and 2005. Of this number, 4498 (9.4%) had tinea capitis. The highest prevalence of the disease occurred in the Southern region of the state (12.6%). Schools in urban areas recorded lower prevalence of the disease. Male : female prevalence ratio of 1.6 : 1 was recorded. Tinea capitis occurred significantly more in children below 10 years of age than in those above this age (chi(2 )= 3.178; P < 0.10). Of 502 isolates recovered in culture, Microsporum audouinii was the most prevalent (42%), followed by M. ferrugineum (17%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (16%). Four of the samples revealed spore head of Aspergillus spp. in direct sample microscopy. A total of 29 (6%) isolates was atypical forms. The majority (91%) of children with the lesion came from families of three or more children, living in crowded apartments. Results showed that tinea capitis remains an important public health problem in Anambra state of Nigeria.

Five yeast isolates obtained from cashew tree flowers in Nigeria resembled Cryptococcus neoformans phenotypically by producing brown pigmented colonies on niger seed agar, expressing a capsule, and being able to grow at 37 degrees C. However, rRNA gene sequences, including the 18S rRNA gene, the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene and the ITS1+2 regions, suggested that these yeasts form a basal lineage within the Trichosporonales (Tremellomycetidae, Hymenomycetes, Basidiomycota, Fungi). Since the isolates could not be identified with any known genus and species within the Trichosporonales, we describe them as Cryptotrichosporon anacardii gen. et sp. nov. with CBS 9551(T) (=NRRL Y-27671) as the type strain. The taxonomic conflict between phenetic and molecular classification schemes within this group of fungi is discussed, and is resolved in favor of the latter.

A total of 100 young adults (67 males and 33 females) participated in the study. Clinical evaluation showed that only 10 of the volunteers showed some scaling, fissuring and peeling of the toe webs. Four of these complained of occasional itching. Fourteen different genera of fungi were recovered from 78 of the 100 youths screened. Yeasts were recovered from 21 (27%) of the positive cases, nondermatophytes from 38 (49%) and dermatophytes from 19 (24%). Microsporum gypseum was the most commonly recovered dermatophyte. Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichosporon cutanueum were the most frequently recovered nondermatophytic mould and yeast, respectively. More males (62.8%) harboured these organisms than females (37.2%). The study further showed that human toe webs that are apparently healthy harbour a variety of fungi, that may be potential pathogens.

The keratin degradation capability of some non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi, viz Scytalidium dimidiatum types A and B, S. hyalinum, S. japonicum and Fusarium solani, was investigated using nail clippings and keratin powder as substrates. Representative isolates of the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were also tested. The two morphological types of S. dimidiatum were almost equally effective in the degradation of substrates, 42-43% nail clippings and 24-26% keratin. Scytalidium hyalinum and S. japonicum degraded 40% and 38% of nail clippings respectively. Degradation of keratin was insignificant. In the case of F. solani, nail clippings were degraded 43% and keratin 20%. The dermatophytes caused much higher degradation of nail clippings (70-73%) and keratin (42-52%).

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