M. Therizolferly et al., WHITE PIEDRA AND TRICHOSPORON SPECIES IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA .1. HISTORY AND CLINICAL ASPECTS - AN ANALYSIS OF 449 SUPERFICIAL INGUINAL SPECIMENS, Mycoses, 37(7-8), 1994, pp. 249-253
White piedra is a hair infection characterized by nodules composed of
fungal elements which envelop the hair shaft. Classically, this infect
ion was considered to be produced by an asexual yeast-like fungus, Tri
chosporon beigelii. At present, in accordance with studies carried out
previously, this species is subdivided into six newly defined distinc
t species (T. asahii, T. ovoides, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. asteroides
and T. cutaneum), all belonging to the class Basidiomycetes. Although
widespread, white piedra has not previously been described in tropica
l regions of Africa. The present study, carried out in Libreville (Gab
on), an equatorial region of Africa, shows that the incidence of this
infection is quite high (18% of 449 inguinal specimens) in the female
population aged 15-60 years, with a predominance in young patients (15
-44 years). The relationship between the clinical manifestations and t
he specific hair lesions is also detailed. Three species belonging to
the genus Trichosporon were identified: T. mucoides, T. asahii and T.
inkin.