The Prevalence of Dermatophytosis and its Etiologic Agents in Clients of Mycology Laboratory of Yazd Central Laboratory in 2013-2018

Dermatophytosis is one of the health problems that may spread from contaminated soil, pets, livestock, and infected humans. Although Tinea capitis is more prevalent in deprived areas, other forms of this disease were also reported in both urban and rural regions. In order to design appropriate strategies to control and treat diseases, the disease prevalence and its effective factors should be investigated.  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of dermatophytosis and its etiologic agents in patients who referred to the mycology laboratory of Yazd Central Laboratory during 2013-2018.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, samples were collected from  suspected dermatophytic lesions of patients who referred to the mycology section of Yazd Central Medical Laboratory during 2013-2018. After completing the demographic information questionnaire, samples were collected from the lesions and examined by direct microscopic culture examination. Moreover, additional tests were performed to determine the genus and species of the etiologic agents.

From 900 patients, 112 cases (12.5%) were positive regarding both direct smear and culture. The highest rate of infection was observed in the age group less than 10 years. The most common clinical forms were tinea corporis, capitis, cruris, manuum, pedis, and ungium, respectively. The most commonly isolated etiologic agents were Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton verrucosum.

Due to the lack of information about the current status of this disease in Yazd, periodical studies are recommended on dermatophytosis, their sources, and etiologic agents in order to take effective measures to control and prevent the disease.