Tinea gladiatorum due to Trichophyton tonsurans in a school wrestling team in Mexico: A case series

Background and Purpose: Tinea gladiatorum is a type of dermatophytosis that occurs in combat athletes, such as wrestlers and judo fighters, as a result of Trichophyton species. Herein, we aimed to present a small outbreak of tinea gladiatorum in a high school in Mexico. Materials and Methods: Seven individuals belonging to the school fighting team were mycologically studied with direct examinations and cultures. In four cases, T. tonsurans was isolated and identified by morphological and proteomic methods (Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization- time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Out of the four subjects, two cases had clinical lesions presented as tinea corporis, and two cases were healthy carriers. Trichophyton tonsurans was also isolated from one of the four training mats (25%). All positive patients were treated with systemic or topical antifungals and achieved clinical and mycological cure. Conclusion: We report the first outbreak of tinea gladiatorum caused by T. tonsurans among a group of high school wrestlers in Mexico.

Tinea Gladiatorum Prevalence Among Wrestlers in the Era of Required Skin Inspection

: Transmittable skin infections in sport are a concern, especially for wrestlers. Current methods for limiting tinea gladiatorum transmission in United States high school wrestling include a required skin inspection protocol. Tinea prevalence before and after the skin inspection protocol was instituted is not widely known. We prospectively determined tinea prevalence among a Minnesota high school wrestler cohort over their 12-week season and compared this to point-in-time incidences reported in wrestlers not subject to a skin inspection protocol. Wrestlers having a suspicious rash at the skin inspection (raised, red, > 5 mm diameter, and with dry flaky scale) were recruited. Among suspicious rashes, tinea gladiatorum infection was determined using direct microscopy with chlorazol black staining. Thirty-eight of 510 wrestlers (7%) developed a rash suspicious for tinea. Thirty-four wrestlers that had rash(s) were enrolled and their rash was tested. Twenty-two of 510 wrestlers developed tinea gladiatorum throughout the season. Tinea gladiatorum prevalence was 4.3% (95% CI 2.5-6.1%). Four wrestlers with rash were not available for testing (unable to obtain timely consent (two) or obtain adequate sample(two)). Prevalence was less than suggested by the incidences previously reported in wrestling populations.

Dermatophyten-Infektionen der Haut, Haare und Nägel bei Kindern – ein Update

ZusammenfassungDas klinische Spektrum und die Erreger der Dermatophytosen unterscheiden sich deutlich zwischen Kindern und Erwachsenen. Im Gegensatz zu Erwachsenen, bei denen die Tinea pedis die häufigste Pilzinfektion der Haut darstellt, werden bei Kindern vor allem die Tinea corporis und Tinea capitis diagnostiziert. Eine neue und beunruhigende Entwicklung ist die Zunahme der Onychomykose – meist durch Trichophyton rubrum – im Kindesalter. Die Tinea capitis stellt eine diagnostische und vor allem therapeutische Herausforderung für Kinderärzte und auch Dermatologen dar. Erreger der Tinea capitis sind in Deutschland vorzugsweise zoophile Dermatophyten. An erster Stelle steht Microsporum canis, das Verhältnis verschiebt sich jedoch mehr und mehr zu den zoophilen Trichophyton-Arten, z. B. Trichophyton interdigitale (früher Trichophyton mentagrophytes). Trichophyton species von Arthroderma benhamiae ist ein neuer Erreger, der im Kindesalter wahrscheinlich mittlerweile alle anderen zoophilen Dermatophyten in Bezug auf die Häufigkeit überflügelt hat. Seltener werden Trichophyton verrucosum – Erreger der „Kälberflechte“ – und Trichophyton erinacei („Igelpilz“) isoliert. Anthropophile Erreger, wie Microsporum audouinii und Trichophyton tonsurans, müssen Anlass sein, nach der Infektionsquelle zu fahnden. Das kann ein familiärer Immigrationshintergrund sein oder auch die Infektion in einem Kampfsportverein (Tinea gladiatorum capitis et corporis).