Cutaneous and ungual phaeohyphomycosis caused by species of Chaetomium Kunze (1817) ex Fresenius, 1829

Two cases of cutaneous and ungual phaeohyphomycosis caused by species of Chaetomium are reported. The patients showed no clinical signs of immunodeficiency. In Case 1 there was a small, ulcerated, crusted lesion on the right forearm. Direct microscopical examination of material from this lesion showed light-brown hyphae with thick-walled cells. The fungus isolated was identified as Chaetomium globosum. Case 2 had lesions of the fingernails. Direct microscopy showed dematiaceous septate hyphae in the nail. The isolate from the nails was identified as Chaetomium perpulchrum. Identification of the fungi was based on the classification of Ames (1963) as adapted by Cooke (1986). Such infections due to Chaetomium species are rare.