Prevalence of Dermatophytic Infection

in Ahmedabad
Rugved Parmar(116) and Parth Parmar(115)

* 3rd year student, B.J.Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

ABSTRACT
Dermatophytosis is considered as one of the major public health
problems affecting millions of people in the world and is the
most commonly diagnosed skin disease. Dermatophytes are a
group of closely related keratinophilic fungi that can invade
keratinized humans and animals tissues such as skin, hair and
nails causing dermatophytosis. They are an important cause of
superficial fungal infection. These infections occur in both
healthy and immune compromised patients. Dermatophytes are
responsible for most cutaneous fungal infections .

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of dermatophytic infection we
pooled data from some previously conducted studies

Samples of skin scrapings/hairs/nail lesions from affected

human beings were screened by standard techniques.
specimens were collected based on clinical presentations
irrespective of age and sex. The diagnosis was confirmed by
microscopic examination using 10-20% potassium hydroxide
(KOH) and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar medium.

The prevalence of dermatophytes in humans were recorded.

Among the Dermatophytes the maximum isolates were
Trichophyton mentagrophytes followed by Trichophyton
rubrum, Trichophyton violaceum,tonsuran,C. Albicans.

INTRODUCTION
Dermatophytes are responsible for most cutaneous fungal
infections and the estimated lifetime risk of acquiring
dermatophytic infection.
The dermatophytosis could be a potential source of zoonotic
infections causing a serious public health problem. The farmers/
pet owners are more susceptible to get this infection from their
Animals/ pets, because of the close contact with them.
Skin infections are common diseases in developing countries, of
which dermatophytosis are of particular concern in the tropics.
Dermatophytes consist of three genera, Trichophyton,
Microsporum, and Epidermophyton.
Worldwide the most common cause of Tinea pedis, Tinea
unguium (onychomycosis), Tinea cruris, Tinea mannum, tinea
corporis, and tinea faciei is Trichophyton rubrum.
Other frequently implicated agents include Trichophyton
mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum
and Epidermophyton floccosum
The laboratory diagnosis of dermatophytosis routinely involves
direct microscopic examination of clinical specimen followed by
in vitro culture techniques.
Microscopic identification of fungal elements directly from
clinical specimen is a rapid diagnostic method.
In vitro culture is a specific diagnostic test, but it is a slow
technique.
The advent of molecular technology has enabled the
development of techniques like polymerase chain reaction which
is a highly sensitive and specific test and can be used for
diagnosis of fungal infections

Materials and Methods: The first study from which the data
was pooled was done during a period 2 months of February and
March, 2016-17 in and Ahmedabad. Total 200 samples were
collected from clinically suspected dermatophytosis patients.
and the second study from which the data was pooled had 50
samples collected from clinically suspected.
Specimen collection and processing: Skin samples were
collected carefully by scraping, after disinfection with 70%
alcohol solution using a sterile scalpel.
The scrapings were collected on a piece of sterile white paper
and then folded, labelled and brought to the laboratory for
further processing.
Confirmation of the clinical diagnosis was based on
microscopic examination and culture. All necessary precautions
were taken to avoid any contamination during collection,
transport, and identification of organisms.
All the collected specimens were examined microscopically
using 20% potassium hydroxide (KOH) for the presence of
filamentous, septate, branched hyphae.
Isolation of positive samples were done by using Sabouraud’s
dextrose agar medium with antibiotics and incubated at 28°C for
2−3 weeks and examined at 2 to 3 day intervals for fungal
growth.
Identification of fungi was made on the basis of phenotypic
characteristics of the colonies and microscopic examination

Result and discussion

Of Both the studies represented
Table I: Prevalence of dermatophytes from skin and nail
samples (n=50)
Area Number Positive No growth
(%) growth n (%)
n (%)
Skin 42 (84.00) 27 (64.29) 15 (35.71)
Nail 08 (16.00) 02 (25.00) 06 (75.00)
Total 50 (100.00) 29 (58.00) 21 (42.00)

Table II: Prevalence of dermatophytes by culture and

microscopy
Methods Positive Negative Total
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Culture 29 (58.00) 21(42.00) 50(100.00)
Microsco 29 (58.00) 21(42.00) 21(100.00)
py

Table III: Overall species wise prevalence of Dermatophytes

in human population

Dermatophytes Hu Preval
man ence
(%)
Microsporum canis 08 27.59
Trichophyton 07 24.14
mentagrophytes
Trichophyton 08 27.59
 rubrum
Trichophyton 06 20.68
verrucosum
Total 29 100

the second study of 200 samples

its result:

Conclusion from both studies

Infection affecting which area /organ more
 SKIN HAIR NAIL

INFECTION AFFECTING WHICH GENDER MORE:

MALE FEMALE

WHICH DERMATOPHYTES INFECTS MORE

 60

50

40

30

20

10

above data in percentage%

CONCLUSION:
The present studies indicate that T.mentagrophytes infection
are the most prevalent and also comparatively T.capitis is seen
more among all infection caused by this dermatophytes.

REFERENCE:
-INDIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
-JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND ANIMAL HEALTH
-STUDY CONDUCTED BY NHL COLLEGE