Geomyces pannorum as a possible causative agent of dermatomycosis and onychomycosis in two patients.

Chrysosporium pannorum (Link) Hughes is a soil keratinophilic fungus present in organic residues, on human skin surface and in the general environment of human beings. Clear evidence for the pathogenicity of this fungus for human beings was lacking. In 1999, a case of fungal infection in a chow-chow dog and its owner was published, where Chrysosporium pannorum (Link) Hughes was determined as the only possible infection trigger. The State Hygiene Institute in Bratislava repeatedly confirmed the cultivation results. Chrysosporium pannorum (Link) Hughes was detected in the material provided by a ZOO: camel, tiger and antelope hair, whereby the same finding as in the dog mentioned above was described, i.e. extensive alopecic foci of various size. Since 2000 the cultivations have been monitored with due care. Eight positive cultivations of Chrysosporium pannorum (Link) Hughes have been detected until now, two of them in patients with a flair for horticulture. In a male patient, fingernail onychomycosis with affected skin on forearms, hands and fingers was determined. In a female patient only nail plates were affected. Chrysosporium pannorum was confirmed to be the only possible pathogen. Therapy with itraconazole produced excellent results in both patients and no relapses were recorded. Based on our repeated findings it is concluded that the evidence for non-pathogenicity of Chrysosporium pannorum should be revised.