Superficial mycoses observed at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Pavia

We studied dermatophyte infections in patients, examined in the Mycological Laboratory of the Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana during the period 1995-2002. A total of 42,494 samples were collected from 33,974 patients suspected to have dermatomycosis. Dermatophytes were identified in 8286 (71.2%) positive cultures. Microsporum canis was the most frequent dermatophyte isolated (46.8%), followed by Trichophyton rubrum (36.7%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (7.9%) and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (4.9%). Less frequently isolated were M. gypseum, T. verrucosum, Epidermophyton floccosum, T. tonsurans and T. violaceum. The most common dermatophyte infections included tinea corporis, onychomycosis, tinea pedis and tinea faciei. Zoophilic dermatophytes were most commonly recovered from children and adolescents with tinea capitis, tinea corporis and tinea faciei. Anthropophilic species were identified mostly in adults with tinea pedis, onychomycosis and tinea inguinalis. During the period studied, we recorded a decline in the rate of M. canis infections, while infections produced by T. rubrum increased in frequency.

“…Higher frequencies of occurrence, i.e. from 1.5 to 5.2%, were reported in countries of southern Europe 10–15 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dermatophyte infections in the Ljubljana region, Slovenia, 1995–2002

Dolenc‐Voljč

2005

“…Similarly in Sardinia, four of 17 cases of tinea capitis in adult women were due to T. violaceum [26] but none in children [27]. In Latium and Lombardy, T. violaceum is reported to be responsible for 0.6% (Rome) [28] to 1.2–1.3% (Milan and Pavia) [29, 30] of cases of dermatophytosis. Although the number of infections observed by us in Tuscany is only 0.6% of the total number of dermatophytoses, it is important because only one case of tinea capitis has been observed in Siena in a resident since the 1970s, and that was in 1980.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton violaceum in Tuscany from 1985 to 1997

Romano¹,

Massai²,

Difonzo³

2000

We describe 45 cases of dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton violaceum diagnosed in Tuscany from 1985 to 1997. Diagnosis was based on direct microscope mycological examination and culture. Nine of the 45 patients were Italian, eight of whom were born and resident in Tuscany; the others were Africans who contracted the infection in their country of origin. The first case in a non-European was observed in 1985, but since 1991 isolation from foreigners has become more frequent. The increase in cases of infection by T. violaceum in our region is certainly linked to immigration. The cases of epidermomycosis in Tuscans suggests that the fungus has already become autochthonous.

“…In Italy, M. canis is the most common dermatophyte isolated from dogs 2–5 and from tinea capitis and tinea corporis in men 6–11 . Geophilic dermatophyte species ( M. gypseum and T. terrestre ) have been isolated in dogs with a prevalence ranging from 2.2 to 8.7% 2, 3, 5…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epidemiology of canine and feline dermatophytoses in southern Italy

Cafarchia¹,

Romito²,

Sasanelli³

et al. 2004

102

A total of 424 animals (268 dogs and 156 cats) with skin lesions (alopecia and peripheral scaling) were examined from January 1999 to December 2002. Of the 424 samples examined, 99 (23.3%) yielded a positive culture and, in particular, 20.5% of the dog samples and 28.2% of the cat samples. Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte isolated from dogs and cats (77.7%), followed by geophilic dermatophyte species (M. gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre). Young dogs and cats, especially those younger than 1 year, showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of M. canis infection than older animals. No statistically significant association was found between infection and sex in cats, while male dogs were more affected by dermatophytes. Among breeds, Yorkshire terriers showed the highest positivity (50%) caused mainly by M. canis (46.6%), while no differences were noticed for cats. A significantly higher prevalence of positive samples was registered in summer and in autumn for cats. The presence of dermatophytes was not associated with itching. The diagnostic value of Wood's lamp fluorescence and microscopic examination proved to be scarce compared with fungal cultures as only 45.5% of the 77 samples that tested positive for M. canis at the cultural examination was positive under Wood's lamp florescence and 53.2% at microscopic examination.