[The mould onychomycosis in Morocco: about 150 isolated cases in 20 years]

Abstract

Introduction: the involvement of moulds in the fungal ungueal pathology is very variable. In fact a big confusion reigns because of numerous errors in the clinico-biological diagnosis, which could be responsible for therapeutic failure of onychomycosis.

Aims of study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative frequency of moulds involved in onychomycosis over a period of 20 years.

Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study, conducted at the laboratory of parasitology-mycology of the Ibn Sina hospital over a period of 20 years. The patients were referred by dermatologists or general practitioners for suspected onychomycosis. The samples were studied according to good rules for performing mycological analysis.

Results: One hundred and fifty cases of onychomycosis were diagnosed with mould, with global prevalency of 2.78%. They mainly concern the toes (95%) with a slight female predominance (60%). The total dystrophy of the nail was the predominant clinical representation (88.3%). Moulds isolated were Aspergillus spp. in 53 cases (35.3%) and Fusarium spp. in 45 cases (30%), 19 cases (12.7%) of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, 17 cases (11.3%) of Penicillium spp., 14 cases (9.3%) of Acremonium spp., one case of Onychocola canadensis (0.7%) and one case of Scytalidium dimitiatum (0.7%).

Conclusion: A significant number of onychomycosis remains attributed to moulds, which highlights the contribution of the laboratory, which remains essential for the clinician to confirm the involvement of mould in onychomycosis, which allows taking into support early treatment avoiding the emergence of aesthetic complications.