Epidemiologic study of dermatophyte infections in Nigeria (clinical survey and laboratory investigations).

The commonest dermatophyte infection among the referred dermatology cases in Nigeria is tinea pedis, whereas among the surveyed population of school children, the commonest fungal infection was tinea capitis. It was found that the most ubiquitous causative organism for tinea pedis was E. fluccosum, that for tinea capitis was M. audouinii, while that for tinea corporis was T. soudanese. The source of infection of tinea capitis among the school children was found to be most likely the local barber who serviced the schools in all the villages, and this might explain the high incidence rate of T. soudanese in tinea capitis. Tinea pedis infection is believed to be highly favoured by the wearing of shoes among the senior students. Animals were not a major source of transmission of dermatophytes in Nigeria. No new species of dermatophytes has been identified among the cultured organisms.