Tinea Corporis in a Gardener Caused by Microsporum gypseum

Abstract

Dermatophytosis (tinea) is an important cosmopolitan mycotic disease, which occurs in sporadic as well as in epidemic form. The present paper describes the causative role of Microsporum gypseum, a soil borne fungus, in the etiology of tinea corporis of a 39-year-old healthy gardener who had no underlying disease. The patient was occupationally exposed to the soil. Diagnosis was established by employing standard mycological techniques that include direct microscopy and cultural isolation. Topical therapy with terbinafine cream (1%) was effective, and no side effects were observed in the patient. Emphasis is given on early diagnosis and prompt treatment in order to prevent the spread of infection. Narayan stain being cheap than other commercially available stains is recommended to undertake detailed morphological studies of fungi, which are implicated in various clinical disorders of humans and animals. To the best of our knowledge, this seems to be the first record of tinea corporis due to Microsporum gypseum in an immunocompetent gardener from Gujarat and probably from India.