Onychomycosis in North-East of Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection which has been conducted in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and to identify the aetiological factors of onychomycosis in Mazandaran province, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the period of 10 years (2003–2012) 1100 patients suspected with onychomycosis, referred to the Mycology Laboratory of the Referral Laboratory and Boali Sina Hospital of Mazanadaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, were assessed for the presence of onychomycosis with mycological examination based on conventional techniques. RESULTS: Among 1100 subjects (398 males and 702 females, aged 1-88 years) onychomycosis was diagnosed in 625(56.8%) cases. Among cases of onychomycosis, laboratorial confirmation was reached through direct examination with positive cultures in 464 samples (74.3%), while only by positive direct exam in 114 cases (18.2 %) or just positive culture in 47 cases (7.5%). The results of fungal culture revealed Candida spp. isolated in (61.9%) of the cases as the most common agents of onychomycosis while among dermatophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was found in 17.7% followed by T. rubrum (1.7%), Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), T. violaceum (0.2%), T. verrucosum (0.2%), T. tonsurans (0.2%) and Microsporum gypseum (0.2%). Among the non-dermatophyte moulds, Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent species 14.2%. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that onychomycosis was diagnosed in 625(56.8%) cases and the most common isolates were Candida spp., followed by dermatophytes and moulds. This epidemiological data collected may be useful in the development of preventive and educational strategies.