Trichophyton soudanense in Italy

Abstract

Trichophyton soudanense is an anthropophilic dermatophyte originating in Africa. Over the last 30 years sporadic cases have been reported in countries that had colonial relations with the endemic areas. In recent times, as a result of growing racial mixing linked to migratory movements, this strain has become increasingly integrated with the species most commonly responsible for dermatophytoses. This phenomenon has occurred, although only recently, in Italy too, where there has been a heavy influx of foreign immigrants over the last few years.

Tinea Capitis in Infants Less Than 1 Year of Age

“…This is in line with the statistics for tinea capitis in Italy, where the cause may occasionally be imported anthropophilic dermatophytes such as T. violaceum (22,23). Indeed, without considering strains of T. violaceum (23) and T. soudanense (24), which are becoming integrated with the species most commonly responsible for dermatophytoses in Italy, no significant change in the pattern of dermatophytes has occurred. This is presumably because immigration has been limited and ethnic groups migrating to Italy are different from those migrating to England.…”

Tinea Capitis Due to Trichophyton soudanense in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Internationally Adopted Children from Liberia

“…However, T. soudanense has been noted to be increasing in nonendemic regions. Two instances of T. soudanense in Italy were reported and attributed to the heavy influx of immigrants (7). Several studies, including one examining the prevalence of tinea in black school children in Germany (8), identified T. soudanense in eight cases of tinea capitis over an 11‐year period in pediatric African immigrants, one case of tinea pedis in an African immigrant, and one case of tinea corporis in a native German patient (9).…”

An unusual case of tinea capitis due to Trichophyton soudanense

“…Trichophyton soudanense is currently responsible for dermatophytosis not only in Africa but also in Europe, where infections are reported with increasing frequency in African immigrants, 9–11 to the extent that in a recent survey of tinea capitis in Europe, it was the commonest dermatophyte, together with Microsporum langeronii, in some parts of France 12 . Autochthonous cases in non‐African subjects are rarer 1,13,14 …”

“…12 Autochthonous cases in non-African subjects are rarer. 1,13,14 Asymptomatic scalp carriers of T. soudanense have been detected among subjects from Africa. 15 Asymptomatic scalp carriers, described mostly for Trichophyton tonsurans, 16 may play a role in the transmission of tinea capitis, being a reservoir of infection and also potential cases of active disease.…”

“…In the last decade, T. soudanense has not often been isolated in Italy. One case of tinea corporis was described in an Angolan, one case of tinea pedis in an Italian 1 and two cases of tinea capitis in a boy from Lombardy and a boy from Tuscany who frequented African friends 2…”