[Onychomycosis in Casablanca (Morocco)].

UNLABELLED

Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease and its prevalence in the literature is estimated between 18 and 50%. The main objective of this study is to describe the epidemiology of onychomycosis and specify the most frequently fungal agents isolated at the University Hospital of Casablanca.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

[corrected] In a retrospective study, performed at the laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology, University Hospital Center of Casablanca (Morocco), over a period of 5 years (2006-2010), mycological results (microscopic study and culture) of 2070 nail samples made during this period were analysed. All onychomycosis cases included in this study had positive microscopy and culture.

RESULTS

Totally, during this period, mycological aetiology was confirmed in 64.5% of cases. Dermatophytes were isolated in 65% of cases (n = 858), yeasts in 30% (n = 405) and molds from 72 nails. Candida albicans is the predominant yeast species in this study (49%), essentially in the fingernails. Onyxis in toenails is essentially dermatophytic, and Trichophyton rubrum is isolated in 75% of onychomycosis of foot.

CONCLUSION

Onychomycosis is a frequent disease in our context, due to diversified fungal agents: dermatophytis in toenail and Candida at the fingernails.