[Dermatophytosis in the greater Resistencia area, Chaco Province, Argentina]

Epidemiological characteristics of dermatophytoses in the metropolitan area of Resistencia city are described. Hair fragments, skin, scalp or nail scrapings were collected from 3.507 persons with dermatological symptoms of probable fungal origin. The mycological studies were performed by three mycological laboratories, one from a university Institute and two from private laboratories. Direct microscopic examinations showed fungi in 39.66% of samples, while the recovering of dermatophytes from cultures was 40.66%. Microsporum canis was the most prevalent species among dermatophytes, isolated in 217 samples (41.73% of cultures) while Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were present in 38.46%, 6.35%, 5.58% and 4.81%, respectively. Microsporum and Trichophyton genus were clearly predominant over Epidermophyton. Variations in prevalences of fungal genus from different places of the world probably reflect the existence of particular environmental situations defined by biotic and abiotic factors that influence the settlement of endemic mycoses.