Dermatophytosis caused by Nannizzia nana in two siblings

Abstract

Background: Nannizzia nana is a zoophilic dermatophyte that affects animals like pigs, boars and, exceptionally, humans, in whom it causes tinea capitis, as well as tinea corporis and onychomycosis.

Case report: Case 1. A previously healthy 8 year-old boy presented to our clinic with a 1-month evolution dermatosis that affected scalp, developing a pseudoalopecic tumor lesion with abundant seropurulent material. The patient had worked in a pig farm. Case 2. A previously healthy 6 year-old girl, sister of the aforementioned child, presented to our clinic with a dermatosis characterized by multiple erythematous-scaly plaques that affected her face, trunk and arms. N. nana was the fungus isolated on culture in both cases. The children were treated with oral griseofulvin and topical ketoconazole that led to clinical and mycological cures.

Conclusions: N. nana dermatophytosis, although being rare in humans, can be treated as other cases of dermatophytosis.

Keywords: Dermatofito zoófilo; Griseofulvin; Griseofulvina; Kerion Celsi; Microsporum nanum; Nannizzia nana; Querion de Celso; Tinea corporis; Tiña corporal; Zoophilic dermatophyte.