Dermatophytoses in Würzburg 1976–1985*,**

Abstract

Summary: In the decade 1976–1985, 8973 dermatophytes were isolated from patients at the University Dermatological Clinic, Würzburg. Trichophyton rubrum comprised 73.9% und Trichophyton mentagrophytes 19.6% of all isolates, while isolation rates of all other species of dermatophytes were under 5%. The most common dermatomycoses were tinea pedum in 43.8% and tinea unguium pedum in 28.8% of all localizations of tinea. A comparison of our results with those of an investigation in the same clinic undertaken between 1956–1958 (Veltman et al.) reveals that the epidemiological shift from T. mentagrophytes to T. rubrum as the most common causative agent of dermatomycoses, a shift that has been observed world‐wide, must have taken place in Würzburg between 1959 and 1975. Zusammenfassung: Im Zehnjahreszeitraum 1976–1985 wurden von Patienten der Universitäts‐Hautklinik Würzburg 8973 Dermatophyten isoliert. Trichophyton rubrum machte 73,9% und Trichophyton mentagrophytes 19,6% alter Dermatophytenisolate aus, während alle übrigen Dermatophytenspezies in unter 5% isoliert wurden. Die häufigsten Dermatomykosen waren die Tinea pedum mit 43,8% und die Tinea unguium pedum mit 28,8% aller Tinea‐Krankheiten. Der Vergleich mit einer Untersuchung an unserer Klinik aus den Jahren 1956–1958 (Veltman und Mitarb.) ergibt, daß die weltweit beobachtete epidemiologische Verschiebung von T. mentagrophytes zu T. rubrum als dem häufigsten Erreger von Dermatomykosen in Würzburg zwischen 1959 und 1975 stattgefunden haben muß.

Tinea capitis among primary school children in Anambra state of Nigeria

“…Such aetiologic shift has been noted before in other parts of the world, as follows: after the Second World War, T. rubrum began to replace T. mentagrophytes as the most common cause of dermatophytosis in Germany – a development that had been observed in the United States of America in the 1930s 17 . In Berlin, this development was considered to have been completed in 1959, 18 and in Wurzburg, Germany, between 1958 and 1959 19 . Prevalence of a dermatophyte may change (aetiologic shift) as a result of the following factors: (i) spread of endemic species by migrating people; (ii) changing world patterns in animal husbandry; (iii) actual evolution of new genotypes and the transfer or adaptation of species indigenous to wild animal populations to parasitism; (iv) climatic alterations and (v) therapeutic advances 20,21 …”

Tinea capitis: temporal shift in pathogens and epidemiology

“…However, the overall number of tinea capitis cases examined was only 22. In a study by the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital Würzburg examining the 10‐year period 1976–1985, T. rubrum was identified as pathogen in seven out of 50 tinea capitis cases, a rather unusual finding .…”

Dermatophytosis, Trends in Epidemiology and Diagnostic Approach

“…Indeed neither species has been isolated in Germany since 1967: in a large study performed in East Germany between 1967 and 1971 including 38,738 patients with dermatophyte infection, only 18 patients had TC all of which were caused by M. canis. In another study in another area of Germany performed in 1976 and 1985, no M. audouinii isolate and only one T. schoenleinii were found [30]. A review by Seebacher at al.…”