Korean J Med Mycol.  2003 Mar;8(1):21-25.

A Case of Onychomycosis Caused by Fusarium solani

• Lim SW
• Kwon SW
• Suh MK
• Lee HC
• Choi JH
• Lee JW
• Ha GY

Abstract

Although dermatophytes are still the main etiologic agents of onychomycosis, some species of nondermatophytic molds and yeasts are also capable of invading the nails. Fusarium (F.) solani is a nondermatophytic mold which is saprophytic fungus in soil. Onychomycosis due to Fusarium species almost always involve the great toenails, particularly in the presence of traumatic or dystrophic abnormalities. We report a case of toenail onychomycosis caused by F. solani in a 42-year-old female. The patient presented with typical distal subungual onychomycosis. Direct microscopic examination of scrapings on the potassium hydroxide preparation revealed fungal elements and repeated cultures on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed the same whitish to cream-colored, cottony colonies. Multiple, sickle-shaped, multiseptate macroconidia and long, slender monophialides were observed in the slide culture. We confirmed F. solani by gross and light microscopic morphology of the colony. The patient was treated with 250 mg of terbinafine daily for 3 months.

Keyword

Onychomycosis; Fusarium solani

MeSH Terms

Adult
Agar
Arthrodermataceae
Female
Fungi
Fusarium*
Glucose
Humans
Nails
Onychomycosis*
Potassium
Soil
Yeasts
Agar
Glucose
Potassium
Soil