Journal de Mycologie Medicale, vol.19, no.4, pp.248-252, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophyte infection of the scalp affecting mainly children and rarely adults. The epidemiology of tinea capitis varies within different geographical areas throughout the world. In the present study, the incidence of tinea capitis agents in samples sent to our laboratory over the past 2 years was investigated and evaluated. A prospective study was conducted in Erzurum district between 2006 and 2008, of 48 children presenting with tinea capitis at the dermatological outpatient clinic of the university hospital. Thirty (62.5%) were male and 18 (37.5%) were female, with an average age at presentation of 6.3 years (age range 3-14 years). Only one case of tinea capitis was 17 years of age. Specimens were obtained from pus, hairs, and skin scrapings from suspected lesions of tinea capitis. Mycological analyses were conducted by direct microscopic examination using 30% potassium hydroxide solution and by fungal culture on Sabouraud glucose agar, with chloramphenicol and Mycobiotic agar. The culture tubes were incubated at 25 °C and examined daily for 1 month. Species were identified according to the macroscopic and microscopic phenotypic features of the cultures. Direct microscopy of samples was positive in all of patients while culture positive was found in 28 (58.3%) of patients. All patients had inflammatory type (kerion). Species identification revealed that Microsporum canis (28.5%) was the most causative agent, followed by Trichophyton tonsurans (25.0%), M. audouinii (17.8%), T. verrucosum (17.8%), T. violaceum (7.1%). From one patient (17 years old), the isolate was T. schoenleinii. Our data show that M. canis is the main etiologic agents of tinea capitis in this area. © 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.