A total of 12,150 cases of suspected dermatophytoses in different areas of Iran were studied between 1986 and 1991. The age groups most commonly infected were 1-9 and 20-29 years. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed in only 9345 cases by laboratory examination. Of these positive samples, 1633 cases were found to be positive by direct microscopic observation only, 429 by culture only and 7283 by both techniques. Scalp ringworm of children was the most common type of tinea. But according to the rate of infection, tinea corporis, tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea manuum, tinea unguium and tinea barbae were the next most prevalent in that order. The frequencies of dermatophytes isolated from patients were as follows: Microsporum canis 19.4%, Trichophyton rubrum 16.5%, Epidermophyton floccosum 14.9%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale 14.6%, Trichophyton verrucosum 11.5%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 6%, Trichophyton violaceum 8.7%, Trichophyton schoenleinii 5.5%, Trichophyton tonsurans 1.3%, Trichophyton erinacei 0.8% and Microsporum gallinae 0.2%.

Background: Onychomycosis represents the most frequently encountered nail disease, which is difficult to eradicate with drug treatment. Aim: This study was undertaken to document the clinicomycological pattern of onychomycosis in Iran. Results of mycological tests of nail scrapings collected over a 4-year period were analyzed. Methods: Both direct microscopy and cultures of the nail material were performed to identify the causative agents. Results: The microscopic and/or cultural detection of fungi was positive in 40.2% of samples. The most common clinical type noted was distolateral subungual onychomycosis in 48.4% of cases. Etiological fungal agents were 50% dermatophytes, 46.8% yeasts, and 3.2% saprophytic moulds. The most frequently detected dermatophyte species were Trichophyton rubrum(48.4%)and T. mentagrophytes(41.9%) . Among yeasts, Candida albicans(58.6)was most common, followed by C. parapsilosis(17.2%) , C. glabrata(10.3%) , C. krusei and C. tropicalis(each 6.9%) . Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were the most frequent saprophytic moulds. Females were affected more frequently than males, and in both sexes those most infected were between 40-49 years of age. Fingernails were affected more frequently than toenails. Conclusions: The clinico-epidemiological data collected can serve as reference for future research and may be useful in the development of preventive and educational strategies.

Dermatophytosis is still being considered as one of the major public health problems in many parts of the world. To identify the prevalence and etiological agents of dermatophytoses, a study was carried out between 2004 and 2006. Out of 1023 subjects suspected to have cutaneous mycoses, 348 (34%) patients were affected with dermatophytoses. The causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically after the clinical samples were subjected to potassium hydroxide examination and culture isolation. Epidermophyton floccosum was the most frequently isolated species representing 32.8% of isolates, followed by T. rubrum (18.1%), T. verrucosum (17.2%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (15.8%), T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (6.6%) and T. violaceum, T. schoenleinii and Microsporum canis (0.9%). The most common type of infection was tinea cruris (31.9%) affecting in particular male patients. Some other most prevalent tinea types were tinea corporis (20.7%), tinea pedis (19%), and tinea unguium (11.2%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on dermatophytoses in Qazvin and the first study that shows tinea cruris as a major type of superficial fungal infection in Iran. The frequency of tinea was higher in males and tinea cruris showed a remarkably increasing tendency and was an important public health issue in Qazvin.

The aerobic actinomycetes are a large group of soil-inhabiting bacteria that occur worldwide. Some of them are the main cause of two important diseases, nocardiosis and actinomycetoma. To identify the prevalence and geographic distribution of aerobic actinomycetes in soil of Qazvin province, a study was carried out during 2006-2007. In this study, the incidence and diversity of medically important aerobic actinomycetes was determined in 300 soil samples of different parts of Qazvin. The suspensions of superficial soil samples were prepared by adding of normal saline, streptomycin and chloramphenicol and the supernatants were cultured on brain-heart infusion agar and Sabouraud's dextrose agar contain cycloheximide. The isolated microorganisms were examined by Gram and acid-fast stains and were identified biochemically and morphologically. Of 96 aerobic actinomycetes isolates identified, Actinomadura madurae and Streptomyces somaliensis were the most frequently isolated species each representing 19.8% of isolates, followed by Nocardia asteroides (15.6%), N. otitidiscaviarum (9.4%), N. brasiliensis (7.3%), A. peletieri, S. griseus, and Nocardia spp. (each 5.2%), and N. transvalensis, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei, Actinomadura spp. and Streptomyces spp. (each 3.1%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on epidemiological investigation of medically important aerobic actinomycetes in soil samples from Iran. In recent years, mycetoma and nocardiosis have been increasingly reported in Iran. The results showed that medically important actinomycetes occur in the environment of Iran and soil could be potential source of actinomycotic infections.

Zoophilic dermatophytosis is a major public and veterinary health problem globally widespread among cattle. To identify the causative agent and geographical distribution of dermatophytes involved in cattle ringworm and to establish if they would be related to human diseases in Iran, a study was carried out on 6789 heads of cows and 130 herdsmen during 2006-2007. Samples were taken from 380 cattle and 43 herdsmen with suspected dermatophytosis. The causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically by KOH examination and culture isolation. Only 352 cases of dermatophytosis were identified in cattle and Trichophyton verrucosum was the exclusive fungus isolated from animals. Moreover, 27 cases of human dermatophytosis were identified and T. verrucosum was the prevalent causative agent for dermatophytosis in the body, scalp, foot, nail and groin of the patients. The obtained results showed that T. verrucosum was the predominant cause of dermatophytosis in livestock and dairy farmers. There is a scarcity of information on isolation and identification of the epizoonotic agents of dermatophytoses in cattle in Iran. This study showed the occurrence of dermatophytosis in humans and cattle and confirms that the dermatozoonoses are responsible for predominant forms of the disease in people who were in contact with cattle.