Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection. It is caused by keratinophilic fungi called dermatophytes. The aim of this work is to detect the most prevalent form of dermatphytosis and the most prevalent dermatophytic fungi from clinical samples of human dermatophytosis. A total of 135 clinical samples include skin, hair and nail samples collected from outpatient Depatment of Dermatology, Govt. hospital, Chitradurga. They were processed by direct microscopy of KOH mount and culture method using Sabouraud dextrose agar medium (SDA) with chloramphenicol and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM). Among different dermatophytic infections studied, the tinea corporis was most prevalent; it was of 52.68%, followed by tinea cruris 34.40%. The infection was more in men (74.%) than women (26%). Among four age groups studied, it was more prevalent in 21-40 age group. Culturing and identification of positive clinical samples revealed the presence of dermatophytes like Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum, non dermatophytes such as yeasts like Candida albicans and molds like A. niger. Among the dermatophytes isolated the most prevalent species found was Trichophyton rubrum. It constituted 67.74% of total dermatophyte isolates.

Keywords: Dermatophytosis, DTM, KOH mount and Keratinophilic fungi.

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Dr Ramalingappa B.

Associate Professor, Department of Studies in Microbiology, Davangere University

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