Absence of Reported cases of Microsporum ferrugineum, Trichophyton violaceum, and Trichophyton schoenleinii in South Korea

Dermatophytosis is a skin disorder caused by dermatophytes. Dermatophytes isolated in South Korea include Trichophyton (T.) rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, T. tonsurans, T. violaceum, T. schoenleinii, Microsporum (M.) canis, M. ferrugineum, M. gypseum, and Epidermophyton floccosum. T. tonsurans was first found in South Korea in 1992. In contrast, there have been no recent reported cases of T. violaceum, T. schoenleinii, and M. ferrugineum in South Korea. Population mobility, changes in human lifestyles, development of the healthcare system, and the introduction of antifungals have brought about dermatophyte evolution in the skin microenvironment. We have reviewed the cases of dermatophytosis caused by M. ferrugineum, T. violaceum, and T. schoenleinii reported both in South Korea and globally.

Trichophyton violaceum: An Emerging Pathogen in Southern Switzerland

Background: Trichophyton violaceumis an anthropophilic dermatophyte, endemic in Africa and recently an emerging pathogen in Europe. Objective: To perform a retrospective analysis of dermatophytoses due to T. violaceum between 2007 and 2018, in order to evaluate epidemiological trends in Southern Switzerland (Ticino). Methods: We reviewed all medical records of patients affected by dermatophytosis due to T. violaceum between January 2007 and December 2018 in Bellinzona (Ticino, Switzerland). Results: Dermatophytoses due to T. violaceumwas diagnosed in 44 patients, 33 of which were in the last 4 years. The most affected sex was female (25/44) and the most frequent diagnosis was tinea capitis (30/44). The majority of tinea capitis patients were children younger than 13 years of age (27/30). The main source of contagion were people from endemic areas, especially from Eritrea. Conclusion: In Southern Switzerland T. violaceumhas been rarely diagnosed before 2014. Its increased occurrence seems linked to increased migratory flows from Eritrea. Since it is responsible mainly for tinea capitis, with most of the time no clearly defined alopecia patches, it is important to consider it as a possible diagnosis when facing scalp scaling. Tinea capitis due to T. violaceum is a benign affection, but if left untreated it can spread epidemically, especially among children in schools and kindergartens. Mycological examination is then required, not only for a correct diagnosis and epidemiological data, but also for planning the appropriate treatment.

Anti-dermatophytes Activity of Origanum compactum Essential Oil at Three Developmental Stages

The main aim of this study is to determine the chemical compounds of Origanum compactum essential oils (OCEO) at three phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and post-flowering) and to evaluate their antifungal activity against three dermatophytes fungal strains: Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes using direct contact method. The main compounds of OCEO are carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene. Oregano EOs showed important antifungal activities with some variability between EOs and fungal testing. At a concentration of 0.75% (v/v), the best inhibition values showed with OCEO at vegetative stage against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (95.17%), Trichophyton tonsurans (92.47%), and Trichophyton violaceum (91.41%). The OCEO at vegetative stage also showed the best IC50 (concentration of an inhibitor where the response is reduced by half) values of 52.86, 0.56, and 0.57% (v/v) against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Trichophyton violaceum, respectively. The findings reveal that OCEO is a good source of anti-dermatophytes agents.