Detection of Trichophyton spp. from footwear of patients with tinea pedis

The prevalence of tinea pedis (also known as athlete's foot) in Japanese workers as well as contamination of their footwear by pathogenic filamentous fungi were investigated. Health checks by a dermatologist at a factory located in the Kanto region (Japan) led to a clinical and morphologic diag...

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Published inDrug Discoveries & Therapeutics Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 207 - 211
Main Authors Ishijima, Sanae A., Hiruma, Masataro, Sekimizu, Kazuhisa, Abe, Shigeru
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Japan International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement 31.08.2019
Subjects
Acremonium - isolation & purification
Adult
Case-Control Studies
dermatophyte
DNA, Fungal - genetics
Humans
Japan - epidemiology
Male
microbial pollution
Middle Aged
Mycological Typing Techniques - methods
reinfection
Shoes
Tinea pedis
Tinea Pedis - epidemiology
Tinea Pedis - parasitology
Trichophyton - classification
Trichophyton - genetics
Trichophyton - isolation & purification
Young Adult
Japan
dermatophyte
reinfection
microbial pollution
Tinea pedis
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Summary:The prevalence of tinea pedis (also known as athlete's foot) in Japanese workers as well as contamination of their footwear by pathogenic filamentous fungi were investigated. Health checks by a dermatologist at a factory located in the Kanto region (Japan) led to a clinical and morphologic diagnosis of tinea pedis in 9 of 19 workers. Scales obtained from the feet and dust obtained from the protective footwear (safety shoes) worn daily in the factory were obtained from these nine subjects and tested using a mycological culture technique. Scales obtained from six of the nine subjects indicated pathogenic filamentous fungi, not only Trichophyton spp., but also Acremonium, which causes symptoms similar to tinea pedis or onychomycosis. Similarly, culture of the dust obtained from the safety shoes yielded pathogenic filamentous fungi in six of the nine subjects, and in four samples Trichophyton spp. was also identified. These findings suggest that cultivable Trichophyton spp. can be detected in approximately 40% of the safety shoes of workers with tinea pedis. The risk of reinfection by pathogenic filamentous fungi is likely increased by wearing dermatophyte-contaminated shoes.
ISSN:1881-7831
1881-784X
DOI:10.5582/ddt.2019.01060