Etiology and Epidemiology of Mycetomas in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The histological identification of the causal organisms of mycetoma was undertaken in 23 cases of mycetoma filed in the departments of pathology of three hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The following organisms were found: Madurella mycetomatis (43.5%), Streptomyces somaliensis (30.4%), Actinomadura madurae (17.4%), and M. grisea (8.7%). Three of these cases were studied mycologically and M. mycetomatis and M. grisea were isolated from two cases and one case, respectively. The disease was commonly seen on the foot. However, various rarer sites were the scalp, back, perineum, and gluteal areas. The geographic distribution of the causative agents, their incidence and prevalence in Saudi Arabia, and the importance of histological examination in the diagnosis of the disease are discussed.