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. 2010 Apr-Jun;55(2):140-3.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.62743.

Nondermatophytic moulds as a causative agent of onychomycosis in tehran

Shahindokht Bassiri-Jahromi  1 , Ali Asgar Khaksar
Affiliations

Nondermatophytic moulds as a causative agent of onychomycosis in tehran

Shahindokht Bassiri-Jahromi et al. Indian J Dermatol. 2010 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: In the last few years the number of cases of nondermatophytic onychomycosis has greatly increased.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence, the clinic characteristics, and predisposing factors of nondermatophytic onychomycosis.

Materials and methods: All collected specimens were analyzed by direct microscopy and culture. Microscopic examination of these specimens was carried out in potassium hydroxide solution (20%) with dimethyl sulfoxide (4%). These specimens were cultured on sabouraud's glucose agar with chloramphenicol and sabouraud's glucose agar with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. Cultures were incubated at 25 degrees C for up to 28 days and checked twice weekly for growth.

Results: Nondermatophytic onychomycosis were 11.5% of all onychomycosis. We found that Aspergillus spp. were the more responsible etiologic agents of nondermatophytic onychomycosis, resulting in a total of 28 patients (59.6%). In our study other causative agents were Acremonium spp. (17%), Fusarium spp. (12.7%), Geotrichum spp. (4.2%), Trichosporun spp., (4.2%) and Scopulariopsis spp (2.1%). In our patients moulds onychomycosis developed mainly in toenails (74.5%).

Conclusion: Knowing the exact pathogen is important and has implications in therapy and prognosis.

Keywords: Fungal infections; Iran; mould; onychomycosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

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