Fastness, simplicity and low cost of the fresh examination lead us to recommend systematic use of the method for primary diagnosis of the disease, mainly at first level public health laboratories.

The first case in Uruguay of 'tinea nigra' is described in a 44-year-old male patient with a maculous pigmented lesion on the right foot. It represents the most meridional case of the disease yet recorded in South America. Exophiala werneckii was isolated in cultures (strain 1905 IHM).