Outdoor airborne dermatophytes and related fungi: a survey in Turin (Italy).

Aerial dispersal of propagules, an important mechanism of fungal spread, has not been sufficiently studied for skin-infecting fungi. Over a period of one year, we have monitored the distribution of dermatophytes in the air of Turin. We have also examined the related aleurioconidic and arthroconidic fungi, which share physiological and morphological characters with dermatophytes and are sometimes considered to cause similar infections. A viable volumetric collector was used. Samples were taken each month; each sample collected 9.6 m3 of air. The medium was Dermasel agar supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Thirty-two species were isolated, within the genera Aphanoascus, Arthrographis, Chrysosporium, Geomyces, Gymnoascus, Malbranchea, Myceliophthora, Myxotrichum, Ovadendron, Trichophyton. The total mycoflora load obtained was rather low throughout the year and particularly in the hottest months. Apart from T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, which are dermatophytes very frequently encountered in Turin, many of the species detected have known pathogenic potential and/or keratinolytic activity.