The causal agents of superficial mycoses isolated in rural areas of South India

Between July 1964 and March 1966 522 superficial fungal pathogens have been isolated from man, animals and soil in rural areas around Vellore, Madras State. Most of the isolates have been recovered from man: tinea corporis (334) tinea capitis (149), tinea unguium (27), interdigital clefts (7). The following species have been found: T. rubrum (163), T. violaceum (153), T. mentagrophytes (56), T. tonsurans (48), C. albicans (46), E. floccosum (44).The only zoophilic species found in man were T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (3) and T. simii (4). Three of the latter were typed as strains of Arthroderma simii. T. verrucosum (3) has been isolated from cattle and M. gypseum (2) from soil.The results indicate that tinea capitis is more frequent in India than hitherto supposed and that zoophilic fungi are less commonly found in man in rural areas than has been previously suggested.