Dermatophytoses due to Microsporum gypseum: report of eight cases and literature review

Microsporum gypseum is a geophilic fungus infrequent agent of human dermatophytoses and world-wide in distribution. In Cadiz, Spain, between 1997 and 2003, a study of 133 positive cases showed that the fifth more isolated dermatophyte was M. gypseum (6.0%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (24,8%), Microsporun canis (24,6%), Trichophyton rubrum (21,8%) y Trichophyton violaceum (6,8%). During 2003 the infection due to this fungus has been repeatedly observed in our area (17.5%). We report herein eight new cases of infection by M. gypseum. Our epidemiological data were compared with those obtained by other authors in other regions of Spain and in those reported in other countries.