Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Mar 23;11(4):245.
doi: 10.3390/jof11040245.

Etiological Agents and Predisposing Factors of Superficial Fungal Infections in Northeastern Argentina

Ana Clara Almada  1   2 , Beda Mereles-Rodríguez  2 , Miriam Chade  2 , Isabel Belinchón-Romero  3   4 , Enrique-Jorge Deschutter  1   5 , José-Manuel Ramos-Rincón  3   6
Affiliations

Etiological Agents and Predisposing Factors of Superficial Fungal Infections in Northeastern Argentina

Ana Clara Almada et al. J Fungi (Basel). .

Abstract

Superficial fungal infections (SFIs) account for approximately 2% of outpatient visits. Individual, environmental, and socioeconomic factors may increase susceptibility. The objective was to identify the etiological agents of SFIs and the predisposing factors. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients attending the Level I Hospital in Puerto Piray, Misiones Province, Argentina, during a community intervention between 2022 and 2023. Statistical analysis was performed on the studied variables and their association with the identified etiological agents. A total of 138 clinical samples were collected from 107 patients with lesions suggestive of SFIs. Of the samples studied, 37% had an identified etiological agent. The majority were women (65%), those aged over 45 years (29%), and patients with underlying conditions (50%). A lack of access to sewage systems (100%) and potable water (19%) and overcrowding (19%) were observed. Dermatophytes (46%) were the most frequent etiological agents, with Trichophyton tonsurans being the primary species. An association was found between dermatophytosis and male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 4.4), ages 1-14 years (OR: 8.04), and overcrowding (OR: 5.38). In conclusion, the prevalence of SFIs was high in the studied population. The main etiological agents involved were anthropophilic dermatophyte fungi. Socioenvironmental conditions may contribute to the incidence of these pathologies.

Keywords: Argentina; dermatomycoses; epidemiology; hygiene; tinea.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Satellite view of Misiones Province between Paraguay and Brazil, Google Maps, 2024, maps.google.com.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Lesions found in the study participants. (A) Non-mycotic plaque lesions in a female patient. (B) Interdigital and nail lesion caused by a dermatophyte. (C) Onychodystrophy and paronychia caused by the Candida albicans complex. (D) Extensive hypochromic lesions on the arm caused by Malassezia spp. (E) A lesion with an erythematous border caused by T. tonsurans. (F) A scaly lesion on the scalp.
Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Fungal structures in mycelial form (pseudohyphae), (B) yeasts with or without pseudomycelium, (C) Yeasts in clusters characteristic of Malassezia spp.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Identified fungi.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The relationship between direct microscopic examination and fungal culture and identification.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Yakupu A., Aimaier R., Yuan B., Chen B., Cheng J., Zhao Y., Peng Y., Dong J., Lu S. The burden of skin and subcutaneous diseases: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2019. Front. Public Health. 2023;11:1145513. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chanyachailert P., Leeyaphan C., Bunyaratavej S. Cutaneous Fungal Infections Caused by Dermatophytes and Non-Dermatophytes: An Updated Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Presentations, and Diagnostic Testing. J. Fungi. 2023;9:669. doi: 10.3390/jof9060669. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gunaydin S.D., Arikan-Akdagli S., Akova M. Fungal infections of the skin and soft tissue. Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. 2020;33:130–136. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000630. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bongomin F., Gago S., Oladele R.O., Denning D.W. Global and Multi-National Prevalence of Fungal Diseases—Estimate Precision. J. Fungi. 2017;3:57. doi: 10.3390/jof3040057. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Estrada Salazar G.I., Chacón Cardona J.A. Frecuencia de dermatomicosis y factores asociados en población vulnerable de la ciudad de Manizales. Colombia. Rev. Salud Publica. 2016;18:953–962. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources