Epidemiological trends of dermatophytoses and dermatophytes in Jerusalem between 1954 and 1981

Abstract

Data for dermatophyte infections analysed for five 3-year periods between 1954 to 1981 led to the following conclusions: Tinea pedis, tinea cruris and tinea manuum showed an increase in the 50's and 60's and declined in the 70's; Tinea unguium and tinea corporis showed an increase during the whole period; At all these sites, the percentage of Trichophyton rubrum, the main etiologic agent, increased steadily over the periods while the percentage of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the secondary etiological agent, decreased. Epidermophyton floccosum, the third etiological agent in these sites, showed no sharp fluctuations; These three dermatophytes which show similar microclimatic requirements and favour the same microecological niches, were called 'glabrohydrophilic'. In tinea corporis they form a definite subset, their percentage being similar to that at other glabrous sites; Tinea capitis was at its peak in the 50's, decreased sharply until the second half of the 70's, its main etiological agent being Trichophyton violaceum. Since 1979, an increase of tinea capitis occurred due to the newly introduced Microsporum canis; Dermatophytes favouring scalp hair were called 'trichophilic'. In tinea corporis they form a definite subset, their percentage being similar to that of tinea capitis; A comparison with other studies from this country shows that macroclimate (i.e. humid warm coastal climate compared with dry cooler inland-mountain climate) is not an important factor in the etiology of tinea.

A clinico‐etiologic correlation in tinea capitis

“…T. verrucosum and T. mentagrophytes are occasionally encountered pathogens. M. canis, the major pathogen in the United Arab Emirates, 22 Qatar, 23 Kuwait, 24 Saudi Arabia, 25 Israel, 26 and Spain, 27 was not isolated in our series. This dermatophyte has been previously reported from this region.…”

Tinea capitis outbreak among paediatric refugee population, an evolving healthcare challenge

“…Epidemiology of TC varies depending on geographical location and cultural, social and nutritional factors . Over the past two decades, an increase in the incidence of TC and a shift in the causative dermatophytes have been observed . Population migrations and/or displacement, travel activities, mass tourism and changes in the level of awareness and surveillance might partly explain these changes .…”

“…However, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of anthropophilic infections in different countries, mainly in urban areas and among refugees and children of African and Caribbean descent . Over the past decades, MC has become the predominant agent of TC in Israel …”

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in Central Poland. Part I—Superficial infections caused by yeasts and moulds

“…The mycological flora of various areas and towns of Poland, such as the Łódź region [1], South‐east Poland [2], Lower Silesia [3], the Gdańsk region [4, 5], Białystok [6], Poznań [7] as well as various areas, countries and towns throughout the world, such as Jerusalem [8], Kuwait [9], the Slovak Republic [10], Kashmir [11], Rome [12], Barcelona, Galicia and rest of Spain [13, 14], United States [15], West Saudi Arabia [16] shows quantitative and qualitative differences. According to the above‐mentioned authors, the phenomenon is associated with widely understood environmental factors.…”