Molecular confirmation of a Trichophyton violaceum isolate from human black-dot ringworm

Clinico-mycological Profile of Dermatophytosis in a Reference Centre for Leprosy and Dermatological Diseases in Addis Ababa

To assess the clinical and fungal species spectrum of dermatophyte infection in a reference centre in Addis Ababa, 539 dermatological patients with signs of dermatophytosis were investigated. Seventy-one percent were female and 29% male, aged 2-66 years (median 9). Four hundred-fifteen (77%) had at least one skin lesion. Tinea capitis was diagnosed in 138/155 males (89%) as compared to 214/384 females (40%) (p < 0.05). T. capitis was diagnosed in 69% of the 374 children. Fingernails were affected in 132/145 (91%) of onychomycosis, 118 (90%) of these patients were females and 14 males (p < 0.05). Tinea corporis was observed in 45, and other types of tinea in 12 patients. Thirty-six percent of all patients had also other skin lesions, mostly impetigo. Of 490 cultured samples 364 (74%) grew dermatophytes: Trichophyton violaceum in 84%, Trichophyton verrucosum in 9.6%, Trichophyton tonsurans in 1.4% and T. rubrum in 0.5%. Additionally, 15 isolates were identified as white variants of T. violaceum, in 3 cases confirmed by sequencing of the rDNA ITS 2 region. T. capitis in young males and T. unguium of fingernails in females were the most common manifestations of dermatophytosis in Addis Ababa, usually caused by T.violaceum.

White variants of Trichophyton violaceum isolated in Ethiopia

Certain dermatophytes are geographically restricted and endemic in particular parts of the world, while other species may have a sporadic but worldwide distribution. Trichophyton violaceum is one of the most common dermatophytes causing tinea capitis, and is the predominant cause of tinea in Africa, South America and the Indian subcontinent. Among 1187 dermatophyte isolates collected from Ethiopian patients with various types of tinea, 32 isolates had uncharacteristic phenotypic features. Based on conventional methods complemented by sequence analysis of the rDNA ITS2 region, these isolates were identified as white variants of T. violaceum. This is the first time that white isolates of T. violaceum have been identified in Ethiopia.

Superficial mycoses due to Trichophyton violaceum in Athens, Greece: a 15-year retrospective study

This is a retrospective study on the superficial mycoses due to Trichophyton violaceum in the greater Athens area for the last 15 years - 1989-2003. During this period 104 patients were found to have an infection due to T. violaceum- an incidence rate of 0.75% of all dermatophytosis. Of the patients 59 were Greeks, 15 Greek Gypsies and 30 immigrants mostly from Albania (50%). Of them 58 were children, 46 adults (mainly women, 34 cases). Trichophyton violaceum infection was presented with a variety of manifestations (127 cases). The prevailing was tinea capitis present in 85 patients - 57 children, 24 women and four men (women : men 6 : 1). Tinea capitis together with other forms of the infection was found in 14 patients. Tinea facie, corporis, manuum, barbae and unguium were seen in nineteen patients. The isolation rate of T. violaceum infection in the Greek population remained at a low level for three decades after the mid-1960s. However, a substantial increase in the isolation rate is observed in the mid-1990s attributed mainly to the influx of economic immigrants from countries where the infection is endemic.

Prevalence of tinea capitis in Ethiopian schoolchildren

The prevalence of dermatophytosis and the spectrum of dermatophyte species were determined in children attending two schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Demographic and clinico-dermatological data were collected. Specimens were taken for microscopy and culture from all suspected lesions. Dermatophyte species were identified by morphology and biochemical tests, supplemented by sequencing of the rDNA ITS 2 region in selected isolates. From the Biruh Tesfa Elementary School (BTES) 824 students, and from Mount Olive Academy (MOA) all 124 students, were included. In BTES 513 (62.3%) students were clinically diagnosed with dermatophytosis, 463 (90.3 %) of them with tinea capitis. In 200 consecutive samples from BTES, and in 66 from MOA, 75 and 62%, respectively, contained fungal elements at microscopy. From BTES, 163/496 (33%) samples were culture-positive, of which 149 (91.4%) grew with dark purple colonies identified as Trichophyton violaceum, while 244 (49.4%) samples were contaminated. A few strains grew slowly developing white to cream colonies, two were identified as T. verrucosum, and 12 as white T. violaceum. From MOA 44 (66.7%) of samples were culture-positive, 38 (87%) were identified as T. violaceum, and one (2.3%) as T. verrucosum, while 33% showed no growth. Four white isolates of T.violaceum were confirmed by DNA-sequencing. Dermatophytosis was thus diagnosed in 55-62% of children screened at two schools of different socioeconomic standards in the Ethiopian capital. Trichophyton violaceum constituted 87-90% of all isolates. White variants of T. violaceum were diagnosed in 16 cases.