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Trichophyton Rubrum Infections in Northern Territory Aborigines *
Author(s) -
Green Allen C.,
Kaminski Geraldine W.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1973.tb01206.x
Subject(s) - trichophyton rubrum , epidemiology , fungus , isolation (microbiology) , medicine , northern territory , mycosis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , dermatology , geography , pathology , immunology , botany , archaeology , antifungal
SUMMARY Trichophyton rubrum infections are endemic among Aborigines living in the high rainfall areas of the Northern Territory of Australia. Over sixty cases have been verified by laboratory examinations. In this preliminary report a few early observations are mentioned. The clinical, mycological and histological findings to date are described and some comments on epidemiology are made as a forerunner to a subsequent report on this disease in these parts of Australia. In general, the changes seen in the skin due to this infection are similar to those often observed in sub‐acute and chronic eczema. So far as we know, T. rubrum infections among Aborigines of the Northern Territory have not been confirmed previously by isolation of the causative fungus. The isolates of T. rubrum concerned are described as granular strains of the species. The colonies become increasingly powdery with age due to the production of numerous microconidia and variable numbers of macroconidia. These findings contrast with the fluffy strains usually isolated from Caucasians in Australia.