J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Feb;29(2):272-276. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.2.272.

Decreasing Incidence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in Korea: Analysis of 6,250 Cases during the Last 21-Year-Period (1992-2012)

• Lee WJ
• Park KH
• Kim MS
• Lee SJ
• Kim DW
• Bang YJ
• Jun JB

• KMID: 1789987
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.2.272

Abstract

Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the second common dermatophyte in Korea. However, few reports have been issued on the epidemiological and mycological characteristics of T. mentagrophytes in Korea based on long-term, large-scale study. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiological and mycological characteristics of T. mentagrophytes in Korea. During the 21-yr-period from 1992 to 2012, 6,250 patients with T. mentagrophytes were surveyed to determine annual incidence and the distribution of subjects by age, sex, season, involved sites, and place of residence. T. mentagrophytes infections were confirmed by fungal culture. In addition, the colony appearance of T. mentagrophytes was classified as granular, persicolor, powdery, or downy. Epidemiological analysis showed that annual incidence reached a peak in 2005, and then gradually decreased. T. mentagrophytes infection was most common in July, and was found predominantly in middle-aged adults, especially in those in their forties. Mycological analysis showed a powdery colony appearance was the most common, followed by persicolor and granular colonies. Toewebs were most frequently involved. This investigation on T. mentagrophytes provides insights into its incidence and characteristics.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Mycology; Trichophyton

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Demography
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Seasons
Sex Factors
Tinea/*epidemiology/pathology
Trichophyton/isolation & purification/*physiology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Culture appearances of T. mentagrophytes colonies. (A) Persicolor. (B) Downy. (C) Powdery. (D) Granular.

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  Fig. 2 Annual incidences of dermatophytoses caused by T. mentagrophytes from 1992 to 2012.

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  Fig. 3 Distribution of patients with dermatophytosis caused by T. mentagrophytes by age and sex from 1992 to 2012.

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  Fig. 4 Monthly and seasonal incidences of dermatophytoses caused by T. mentagrophytes from 1992 to 2012.

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  Fig. 5 Clinical appearance of the interdigital subtype of tinea pedis. (A) Scales on toewebs and of the vesicular subtype, (B) Grouped vesicles on a sole.

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  Fig. 6 Distribution of patients with dermatophytosis caused by T. mentagrophytes by involved site.

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  Fig. 7 Frequency of T. mentagrophytes by colony phenotype (A). Distribution of colony phenotypes of T. mentagrophytes by sex (B), age (C), and season (D).

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