Superficial fungal infections in the Transvaal. A contemporary analysis of dermatophytoses in this region.

An 8-year survey of patients from hospital clinics and private practices in Pretoria seeking specialist dermatological advice for dermatophytoses revealed almost 500 cases, which were confirmed by mycological study. Correlation of the data with other localities was made to illustrate the epidemiology for several common dermatophytes in the Transvaal. Trichophyton rubrum (27%) proved to be the most prominent dermatophyte, followed by T. mentagrophytes (23%), Microsporum canis (19%), T. violaceum (18%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (12%), while M. gypseum occurred in only 1% of the cases. Mapped lists of the published dermatophyte species isolated in southern Africa over the past three decades are presented.