Multicenter study of dermatophyte distribution in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain).

The results of a multicenter study on the distribution of dermatophyte species in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) are presented. In the period 1977-1983, 638 dermatophyte strains were isolated from tineas by three different mycological laboratories. Zoophilic strains were prevalent comprising 64.4% of the isolates. T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum was isolated in 51% of the cases. A significant drop in the prevalence of T. tonsurans and T. violaceum was noted. Important variations were observed in dermatophyte distribution in relation to other geographical areas of Spain.