Use of MALDI-TOF MS for fungal species distribution of interdigital intertrigo in seafarers,Dakar, Senegal

To determine fungal species distribution of interdigital intertrigo among seafarers in Dakar, Senegal, a cross-sectional study was carried out from May to August 2017 among seafarers clinically diagnosed with interdigital intertrigo. A questionnaire was filled to each patient before sampling the affected folds and transporting to Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital where mycological analyses were realized. Species identification by MALDI-TOF MS was performed in Marseille, France. In total, 169 men (21–66 years) were included. Few of them (3%) had a high level of education and the duration of the mycosis exceed 10 years for 88% of patients. Direct microscopic examination (ME) was positive in 34.3%. Among samples with positive ME, 58.6% had positive culture. An overall incidence of 30.2% was found. Patients with confirmed cases aged between 28 and 66 years. Among them, those between 36–50 years were predominant (52.9%). Those with a high level of education were less representative (2%). For 52.1% of patients, the duration of the mycosis was superior to 10 years. Furthermore, 57% of cases were significantly associated with other types of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis (P = 0.03). Culture was positive in 23.7% isolating 43 strains successfully identified at the species level by MALDI-TOF MS for 31 isolates: 20 Candida and 11 dermatophytes. The rest was identified only at the genus level belonged to Fusarium. In definitive, MALDI-TOF MS could be a useful tool for routine and fast identification of dermatophytes, yeasts and NDFF in clinical mycology laboratories.     

Tinea corporis due to Trichophyton violaceum: A report of two cases

Dermatophytes are Fungi which infect keratinized tissues, that is, skin epidermis, hair and nails. Trichophyton violaceum is an anthropophilic, cosmopolitan dermatophyte. It primarily causes tinea capitis and less commonly tinea corporis and tinea unguium. We present a report of two cases of tinea corporis due to T. violaceum in children. Infections due to T. violaceum are important because of its transmissibility within families and community and its potential to spread and establish in new geographical areas.     

Isolation of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi from surface sediments of the Shatt Al-Arab River and its creeks at Basrah, Iraq

Summary. Twenty-five sediment samples were taken from randomly selected sites in the Shatt Al-Arab River and its creeks and analysed for dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi. The results revealed that out of 25 samples only 13 (52%) yielded dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi. A total of nine species in four genera were isolated. The most frequent genera isolated in this study were Chrysosporium and its teleomorph Aphanoascus . The species most frequently found were Aphanoascus julvescens, A. durus, Chrysosporium crassitunicatum, Chr. keratinophilum and Chr. tropicum (each n =3). Microsporum was represented by two species, namely M. fulvum and M. gypseum. Trichophyton was represented by one species, T. verrucosum . The occurrence of these fungi illustrates that sediments may act as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic fungi for human and animals.
Zusammenfassung. Fünfundzwanzig Sedimentproben wurden von zufällig ausgewählten Orten im Shatt Al-Arab-Fluß und seinen Neben-flüssen gewonnen und auf Dermatophyten und sonstige keratinophile Pilze untersucht. Es stellte sich heraus, daβ von 25 Proben nur 13 (52%) keratinophile Pilze enthielten. Insgesamt wurden neun Arten aus vier Gattungen isoliert. Die in dieser Studie am häufigsten isolierte Gattung war Chrysosporium und sein Teleomorph Aphanoascus . Die am häufigsten isolierten Arten waren Aphanoascus fulvescens, A. durus, Chrysosporium crassitunicatum, Chr. keratinophilum und Chr. tropicum. Microsporum war durch zwei Isolate repräsentiert, nämlich M. fulvum und M. gypseum. Trichophyton war nur durch die Art T. verrucosum vertreten. Flußsedimente können also als mögliches Reservoir für potentielle mensch- und tierpathogene Pilze angesehen werden.     

Mykosen bei Patienten mit Psoriasis oder atopischer Dermatitis*

Zusammenfassung. Es wurden die Daten von 44 695 Patienten ausgewertet, welche stationär an der Universitäts-Hautklinik Kiel behandelt wurden. 3006 Patienten wurden wegen einer Psoriasis, 1808 wegen einer atopischen Dermatitis stationär aufgenommen. Mit alters- und geschlechtskorrigierenden Berechnungen wurde untersucht, ob Mykosen bei Patienten mit Psoriasis oder atopischer Dermatitis häufiger als erwartet auftreten. Als Kontrolle dienten alle jemals an der Kieler Universitäts-Hautklinik stationär aufgenommenen Patienten. Patienten mit atopischer Dermatitis hatten vornehmlich eine intestinale Candida-Besied-lung (RR = 1.51, p <0.01). Eine kutane Candidose zeigte sich signifikant häufiger bei Patienten mit Psoriasis (RR = 1.7, p <0.01). Die Aufgliederung nach dem Typ der Psoriasis zeigt, daß die erhöhte Frequenz einer kutanen und oralen Candidose nur bei Typ II Psoriatikern (mit einem Beginnalter < 40 Jahre) festzustellen war. Mit Ausnahme der vermehrten Besiedlung des Intestinaltraktes mit Candida species (RR = 1.45, p <0.05) wiesen Patienten mit Typ I Psoriasis (Beginnalter <40 Jahre) keine signifikanten Abweichungen vom Kontrollkollektiv bezüglich der Candidose auf. Bei diesen Patienten war jedoch eine Tinea signifikant seltener (RR = 0.71, p <0.01). Diese Arbeit gibt für Patienten mit atopischer Dermatitis oder Psoriasis das relative Risiko (RR) an, eine Mykose an den verschiedenen Lokalisationen zu erwerben. Der oft diskutierte Einfluß einer Pilzkrankheit auf das Entstehen oder den Verlauf der Krankheit bei Patienten mit atopischer Dermatitis oder Psoriasis wird durch diese Ergebnisse relativiert. Die häufigere intestinale Candida-Besiedlung und die Erkrankung an atopischer Dermatitis mögen sich schwach gegenseitig beeinflussen, wie es durch das gering erhöhte relative Risiko von RR = 1.51 (p <0.001) belegt wird. Summary. Both, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are multifactorial diseases with an unknown pathogenesis. To elucidate the influence of fungal infections in the onset or recurrence of those inflammatory skin disease we determined the frequencies of Candida and dermatophyte infections of the skin and orointestinal tract concomitantly seen in patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. We analyzed the files of more than 40 000 in-patients of the Department of Dermatology, Kiel. Sex- and age-adjusted relative risks were calculated. The results demonstrate that patients with psoriasis (N = 3006) presented with a decreased rate of tinea. This was significant for tinea corporis (RR = 0.13, p < 0.01). Candida infections of the skin were seen more often in psoriasis patients compared to controls. Differentiating between Type I (early onset) and Type 11 (late onset) psoriasis only Type I psoriasis patients presented with decreased dermatophyte infections and increased Candida colonization of the intestinum. However, patients with Type I1 psoriasis demonstrated an increased rate of candidosis cutis and candidosis oris as compared to controls. Patients with atopic dermatitis (N = 1808) displayed a decreased overall incidence of tinea and Candida infections. Furthermore, in patients with atopic dermatitis a Candida colonization of the orointestinal tract was found elevated (RR = 1.51, p < 0.0l), whereas tinea corporis (RR = 0.24, p < 0.01) and candidosis cutis (RR = 0.30, p < 0.001) was found decreased compared to controls. Our results show that the influence of fungal infections on the two skin diseases investigated is not as strong as often considered. The increased relative risk in patients with atopic dermatitis to present with Candida colonization in the digestive tract or vice versa may contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.     

Dermatophytosis in Children and Adolescents: Epidemiological Study in the City of Barcelona, Spain/Dermatophytosis bei Kindern und Erwachsenen: Epidemiologische Studie in Barcelona, Spanien

Summary: We studied the epidemiologic characteristics of dermatophyte infection in a group of 170 children and adolescents from Barcelona, Spain. Ages of the patients ranged from 11 months to 18 years. Most children resided in urban districts with poor hygiene and social conditions. There was a predominance of single skin lesions (156 cases or 92%) and a greater number of tinea corporis cases (59%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes (72%) and Microsporum canis (15%) were most frequent causative fungi. Anthropophilic species (E. floccosum) were isolated in 67% of patients with tinea cruris and in 50% of patients with tinea pedis. Most children with dermatophytosis (11% cases or 67%) were aged between 14 and 11 years.
Zusammenfassung: Bei einer Gruppe von 170 Kindem im Alter von 11 Monaten bis 18 Jahren wurden in Barcelona, Spanien, die epidemiologischen Eigenschaften der Dermatophyteninfektion untersucht. Die Mehrzahl der Kinder stammte aus Stadtgebieten mit erheblichen sanitären hygienischen und sozialen Problemen. Es wurden überwiegend Einzelherde (156 Fälle oder 92%), sowie eine große Anzahl von Tinea corporis (59%) festgestellt. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (72%) und Microsporum canis (15%) waren die häufigsten Pilzerreger. Anthropophile Spezies (E. floccosum) wurden bei 67% der Patienten mit Tinea cruris und bei 50% mit Tinea pedis isoliert. Die Mehrzahl der Kinder mit Dermatophytose (114 Fälle oder 67%) befanden sich im Alter von 4 bis 11 Jahren.     

Fungal infection as a cause of skin disease in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: prevailing fungi and pattern of infection

A total of 4,294 clinically suspected cases of dermatomycoses belonging to 26 different nationalities were examined between April 1984 and April 1988. Fungi were demonstrated in routine potassium hydroxide/dimethyl sulfoxide mount in 3,814 cases (88.8%) and the etiology was determined by culture in 2,458 cases (57.2%). Tinea versicolor was the predominant fungal infection (30.9% of all infections). Onychomycosis and paronychia ranked second in prevalence (16.8%). Candidal onychomycosis was the most common type of infection. Scalp ringworm among children ranked third (15.3%), Microsporum canis was the main etiologic agent. Tinea pedis and tinea manuum ranked fourth in prevalence (13.2%). Tinea corporis represented 10.7% of infections and M. canis was the main agent. Tinea cruris accounted for 8.7% of infections and Epidermophyton floccosum was the most common agent. Cutaneous candidosis constituted 4.3% of infections. White piedra was seen in 6 cases (0.16%). Yeasts were proved not to be unimportant as a cause of disease of skin and nail in our study.     

Long-term maintenance of lyophilized fungal cultures of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton

Summary. Twenty-six sporulating strains of lyophilized microscopic fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton have been maintained at 2–8 °C for 8–14 years. In 23 strains the number of viable particles reduced less than 10-fold during this period compared with immediately after lyophilization. The viability of other three investigated strains ranged from 3.4% to 7.1% in comparison with the original values.
Zusammenfassung. Sechsundzwanzig sporulicrende Stämme von lyophilisierten mikro-skopischen Pilzen der Genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces und Trichophyton wurden bei Temperaturen zwischen 2 und 8 °C über Zeiträume zwischen 8 und 14 Jahren aufbewahrt. Die Zahl der lebensfähigen Partikel innerhalb dieser Zeiträume war nicht stärker als um den Faktor 10 reduziert, verglichen mit dem Zustand von 23 Stämmen unmittelbar nach der Lyophilisierung. Bei drei weiteren Stämmen überlebten 3.4 bis 7.1% im Vergleich zu den Konzentrationen nach dem Lyophilisierungsvorgang.