Trichophyton tonsurans scalp carriage among wrestlers in a national competition in Turkey


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Ilkit M. M., GUMRAL R., Saracli M. A., Burgut R.

MYCOPATHOLOGIA, vol.172, no.3, pp.215-222, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 172 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11046-011-9421-y
  • Journal Name: MYCOPATHOLOGIA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.215-222
  • Keywords: Anthropophilic, Asymptomatic carrier, Dermatophyte, Trichophyton tonsurans, Wrestling, TINEA-CORPORIS-GLADIATORUM, CAPITIS GLADIATORUM, EPIDEMIC, OUTBREAK, INFECTION
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Trichophyton tonsurans tinea gladiatorum is an emerging epidemic among combat-sport athletes across the globe. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic dermatophytic infections among wrestlers in the National Greco-Roman Championship in Turkey. In total, 194 wrestlers from 32 provinces and 72 clubs were examined for scalp, trunk, groin, and toe web dermatophytic infections. We also administered a questionnaire to obtain information on the participants' lifestyles, wrestling characteristics, and risk factors for dermatophytic infections. The hairbrush method was used for scalp and trunk sampling, whereas a cotton swab was used for groin, toe web, and mat sampling. Three wrestling mats in the gymnasium were surveyed for dermatophytes using the touch preparation method. A total of 17 (8.8%) wrestlers harbored dermatophytes, and 22 strains were isolated: 13 (59.1%) T. tonsurans and 9 (40.9%) T. rubrum. These isolates were found on the scalp (8), trunk (2), forearm (1), hand (1), groin (3), and feet (7). In addition, we recovered 8 dermatophyte strains from the 150 mat samples (5.3%): T. rubrum in 6 samples (75%) and T. tonsurans in two samples (25%). T. tonsurans was only recovered from 11 out of 194 (5.7%) wrestlers. Scalp carriage represents the predominant (72.7%) clinical picture of a T. tonsurans infection in these Greco-Roman wrestlers in Turkey.