Survey of Trichophyton tonsurans Infection in the Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku Areas of Japan

Abstract

A survey on the infestation of dermatophytosis caused by T. tonsurans was made by inquiry to dermatologists. Patients strongly suggestive of having skin lesions due to T. tonsurans were seen in all areas examined, and were mainly schoolboys, including those practicing judo, of high schools and junior high schools. In Nagasaki, a mycological examination was done on 21 judo students and their teacher in a high school in which a patient with T. tonsurans infection was mycologically confirmed and treated by antimycotics. Mycological examinations failed to isolate T. tonsurans, but even after the examination sporadic cases were reported among the group members. In Saga prefecture, Kyushu, a mycological screening for T. tonsurans infection among judoists and wrestlers in 13 high-schools and 7 junior high schools was done using the blush sampling method. Fifty-six strains of T. tonsurans were isolated from 248 students. The problems concerning the control of this infection were discussed.

Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in Tehran, Iran, from 2000 to 2005

“…A similar low isolation rate is present in European countries [9,11,12,33] as well as in South America [34,35] and Asia. [20,26,36] An important fact that should be discussed is the low isolation rate (0.7 and 0.2%) and disappearance of T. schoenleinii and M. gypseum. Approximately 10 years ago, infections with T. schoenleinii were considerably more frequent in Iran.…”

“…An epidemic has also been reported in Japanese judo participates over the last few years, following the epidemic in the United States and in Europe. [17][18][19][20][21] At present, T. tonsurans is the most common cause of tinea capitis in the United States. [22,23] Canada and Europe have seen a dramatic increase of tinea capitis due to T. tonsurans since 1990, [24,25] a major epidemic in the past.…”

Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Trichophyton tonsurans</i>, the Causative Dermatophyte of the Tinea Gladiatorum Epidemic in Japan between 2011 and 2015

“…Subsequently, T. tonsurans infection causing tinea gladiatorum was detected in high school and university judo and wrestling teams (4). A 2004 investigation by the Japanese Society of Medical Mycology showed a nationwide spread of T. tonsurans infection among school judo, wrestling, and sumo teams and in schoolchildren participating in local sports clubs (5)(6)(7)(8) along with members of their families (5,8). Recently the number of reported infections has decreased, but these infections have become a "hidden problem" due to an increase in asymptomatic carriers (9) and a decrease in interest among dermatologists.…”

Trichophyton Species Isolated from Asymptomatic Patients of the Pet-owner Pair in Mexico

“…In addition, T. tonsurans has been reported to have displaced almost all the species of dermatophytes that cause tinea capitis in North America [14,21]. This microorganism has recovered with an increased frequency in infections in European and East Asian countries [22][23][24]. Furthermore, T. tonsurans plays a central role in symptomatic disease and can be recovered from hosts without symptoms (asymptomatic carriers) at high rates, comparable to the rates observed in patients with clinical infection [20,25,26,27] which is consistent with the findings of this study.…”