Abstract

A total of 456 clinically diagnosed cases (170 male and 286 female) of superficial mycosis was conducted. Highest incidence of cutaneous candidiasis followed by pityriasis versicolor was found. The maximum incidence of superficial mycosis was found in adult females with cutaneous candidiasis then pityriasis versicolor in both sexes (females 83 and males 80). In this study, the most common isolate was Trichophyton mentagrophytes (24.3%) of all dermatophyte infections, and 8.5% of the total cases of superficial mycosis. The authors investigated the relationships between cutaneous mycosis and ABO blood groups, through blood typing, clinical and mycological diagnosis with identification of isolated dermatophytes. They concluded that T. mentagrophytes was isolated from 53.8% of the patients belonging to blood group A, 33.8% to group O and 15.3% to group B. Epidermophyton floccosum was seen in 23.4% group A, 65.3% group O and 14.2% group B. Trichophyton tonsurans was found in 41% belonging to group A, 43.7% to group O and 13.2% group B. Trichophyton rubrum was found in 40% for each patient with blood group A and O, while 20% for patients with blood group B. The relationship of cutaneous candidiasis with blood group O was found to be 45.8%, group A 34.1%, group B 18.9% and only 1.2% for blood group AB, while in pityriasis versicolor, blood group O was found in 74% of the cases, group A in 13.9%, group B in 10.7% and group AB was found in only 1.4% of the cases of pityriasis versicolor. The main age group affected was 21-30 years (59 cases) (male 28 cases and females 31 cases) out of 136 total cases of pityriasis versicolor. Even though the authors have found a higher number of patients belonging to blood group O infected with E. floccosum, these results suggested that there is statistical evidence (P ˃ 0.001) that these individuals are more susceptible to superficial mycosis.

Key words: Blood groups, dermatophytes, superficial mycosis.