FUNGI RESPONSIBLE FOR SKIN MYCOSES IN TURIN (ITALY)

There has been a recent increase in the frequency of skin mycoses, cou pled with changes in the epidemiology and distribution of the species responsible. Periodic epidemiological analyses of these diseases are t hus required to ensure their efficacious control. Hair fragments, skin scrapings, specimens from vesicles and blisters and nail parings were seeded on Petri dishes loaded with Sabouraud or Mycosel agar, supplem ented with chloramphenicol and with chloramphenicol plus cycloheximide respectively. Parts of each specimen were also mounted in 10% potassi um hydroxide for examination under the microscope. Yeasts prevailed ov er dermatophytes. Microsporum canis was the most frequent dermatophyte , followed by Trichophyton rubrum, IT: mentagrophytes and Epidermophyt on floccosum. Tinea corporis was the most common mycosis, followed by tinea unguis, tinea capitis and tinea pedis. Men were chiefly bearers of tinea cruris and tinea pedis, women of tinea corporis, and children and teenagers of tinea capitis. Some examples of the transmission of infection through interhuman contact, via animals and from the soil ar e also presented.