Incidence and biodiversity of yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes in superficial skin infections in Assiut, Egypt

• Published in: Journal de mycologie médicale 2017-06, Vol.27 (2), p.166-179
• Main Authors: Moubasher, A.H., Abdel-Sater, M.A., Soliman, Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthrodermataceae - classification; Arthrodermataceae - genetics; Arthrodermataceae - isolation & purification; Biodiversity; Child; Child, Preschool; Dermatitis - epidemiology; Dermatitis - microbiology; Dermatomycoses - epidemiology; Dermatomycoses - microbiology; Dermatophytes et non dermatophytes; Dermatophytic; Egypt - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Levures; Male; Middle Aged; Mycological Typing Techniques; Mycoses superficielles; Non-dermatophytic; PCR; Skin - microbiology; Skin infections; Yeasts; Yeasts - classification; Yeasts - genetics; Yeasts - isolation & purification; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1156-5233; 1773-0449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2017.01.005

The aim was to identify the incidence of the causal agents from dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes and yeasts in Assiut Governorate employing, beside the morphological and physiological techniques, the genotypic ones. Samples from infected nails, skin and hair were taken from 125 patients. Patients who presented with onychomycosis, tinea capitis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis during the period from February 2012 to October 2015 were clinically examined and diagnosed by dermatologists and were guided to Assiut University Mycological Centre for direct microscopic examination, culturing and identification. Onychomycosis was the most common infecting (64.8% of the cases) followed by tinea capitis (17.6%). Direct microscopic preparations showed only 45 positive cases, while 96 cases showed positive cultures. Infections were more frequent in females than males. Fifty-one fungal species and 1 variety were obtained. Yeasts were the main agents being cultured from 46.02% of total cases. Non-dermatophytes were the second etiologic agents. Aspergillus was responsible for infecting 19.47% of total cases and dermatophytes appeared in only 15.93% of the cases. Yeasts were the main causal agents followed by non-dermatophytic fungi (mainly species of Aspergillus, then Alternaria, Scopulariopsis and Fusarium). Both direct microscopic preparations and culturing are recommended for mycological evaluation of clinical specimens. Sequence analysis of ITS region is recommended for yeast identification. Ce travail a pour but de connaître les agents de mycoses superficielles chez l’homme dans le gouvernorat d’Assiout, en utilisant le diagnostic morphologique, les techniques physiologiques et génétiques. Les échantillons prélevés ont concerné la peau, les cheveux, et des ongles infectés de 125 malades. Nous avons examiné les patients atteints de teigne des ongles, du corps et du cuir chevelu de février 2012 à octobre 2015. Ces cas ont été diagnostiqués cliniquement par des dermatologistes, à la faculté de médecine, université d’Assiout. Après prélèvement des échantillons nous avons réalisé un examen microscopique et des cultures sur milieux appropriés pour identifier les champignons par les moyens morphologiques et génétiques, utilisés au centre de mycologie de l’université d’Assiout. Les cas d’onychomycose sont les plus répandus dans les infections superficielles (64,8 %). La teigne du cuir chevelu vient au deuxième rang après l’onychomycose (17,6 %) L’examen microsco