The distribution of ringworm infections amongst Nigerian nomadic Fulani herdsmen

There are very few medical reports on the nomadic peoples of the world. In Nigeria such reports are non-existent. The present work has looked at the distribution of ringworm infections among the Nigerian nomadic Fulani herdsmen. An examination of their infected herds of cattle revealed similarities in the species of dermatophytes isolated from the herdsmen and those isolated from their cattle. Some of the leaves of the plants that lined the cattle tracks normally used by both the herdsmen and their cattle yielded some of the species of dermatophytes isolated from the herdsmen and their cattle. The possible origins of the dermatophytes that caused the ringworm infections amongst the nomads are discussed.