Trichophyton Research Articles

Clinico-mycological study of onychomycosis in Botswana

Background Onychomycosis is a fungal disease of the toenails or fingernails that may include any part of the nail unit including the matrix bed or plate The causative organisms of onychomycosis are dermatophytes Candida yeasts and non dermatophytic molds associated with different clinical presentations Methods A retrospective study was carried out including the patients diagnosed with onychomycosis at the National Health Laboratory Gaborone Botswana from January to December The objective of the study was to find out the predominant species and most common clinical form of onychomycosis in Botswana Results patients were diagnosed with onychomycosis females and males Trichophyton violaceum T violaceum was found to be the predominant species patients with male to female ratio of and the commonest clinical type was endonyx onychomycosis patients followed by distal subungual onychomycosis patients white superficial onychomycosis patients and cases of candida paronychia Fingernail involvement was more common patients compared to toenail involvement patients all males Conclusion Efforts ought to be made for the precise diagnosis and timely treatment of onychomycosis as it does not ordinarily cure by itself and can trigger more infectious lesions in other parts of the body The treatment of onychomycosis is aimed at the eradication of the causative organism both clinical and mycological cure HIV status should be investigated where multiple fingernails or toenails are involved nbsp

The incidence of dermatophytosis in Babylon Province, Iraq

Background: Dermatophytosis is caused by dermatophytes, which attack and grow on dead animal keratin. Dermatophytes belong to three genera, namely, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton. Objective: The objective of this study is to detect the types and the frequencies of the dermatophytes infections in Babylon Province. Materials and Methods: In this study, 200 specimens of dermatophytic patients are collected in Babylon Province. Collection of Specimens includes skin scrapings, hair fragments, and nail clippings. The specimens were diagnosed by direct microscopic examination and culture. Results: One hundred and sixty-four (83%) specimens of dermatophyte infection were positive in culture and used in phenotypic diagnosis. Tinea corporis was the predominant infection in 83 (41.5%) patients, Trichophyton rubrum showed the highest frequency of dermatophytes isolates 29 (17.68%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes 26 (15.85%), and Microsporum canis 24 (14.63%). Fifty-six cases were positive in direct microscopic examination, and the invasion of hair was ectothrix type, forming masses of arthroconidia on the outside of the hair shaft in 44 (78.57%) specimens, while the invasion of hair was endothrix type, and abundant sporulation inside the hair shaft causes breakage of the hair near the surface of the scalp in 12 (22.43%) specimens (P

Phytochemical screening and antifungal activity of leaves extracts of Luffa cylindrica (Roem)

Mycosis constitutes a common health problem, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. The current cascade of antifungals are either too toxic or require long term use for total eradication. This study evaluates antifungal activity and phytochemical constituents of Luffa cylindrica leaves extract which were screened for the presence of bioactive phytochemicals and extracted by cold maceration in n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The ethyl acetate extract was further fractionated using bio-assay guided column chromatography. In vitro antifungal activities were investigated against three types of fungi which were, Candida albicans ATCC 2876, Candida tropicalis ATCC 19092, Trichophyton rubrum ATCC 28188; and four clinical isolates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton flocossum using agar diffusion and micro broth dilution methods. The crude extracts revealed the presence of sterols, saponins, flavonoids, phenols and alkaloids. The ethyl acetate extract produced the strongest antifungal activity with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 13.00 to 16.00 mm at an exposure concentration of 2500 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of the ethyl acetate extract against the test fungi were 500 to 1000 µg/mL and 2000 to 4000 µg/mL, respectively. L5 and L6 fractions produced fungal inhibitory activity comparable to the crude ethyl acetate extracts of L. cylindrica with MIC values of 1000 to 2000 µg/mL and 500 to 2000 µg/mL, respectively. The ethyl acetate extracts of L. cylindrica possess antifungal properties that could serve as leads for the development of novel antifungal drugs. Key words: Luffa cylindrica leaves, antifungal, phytochemical screening, minimum inhibitory concentration.

Genus- and species-level identification of dermatophyte fungi by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

This paper demonstrates that surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) can serve as a fast and reliable technique for detection and identification of dermatophyte fungi at both genus and species level. Dermatophyte infections are the most common mycotic diseases worldwide, affecting a quarter of the human population. Currently, there is no optimal method for detection and identification of fungal diseases, as each has certain limitations. Here, for the first time, we have achieved with a high accuracy, differentiation of dermatophytes representing three major genera, i.e. Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Two first principal components (PC), namely PC-1 and PC-2, gave together 97% of total variance. Additionally, species-level identification within the Trichophyton genus has been performed. PC-1 and PC-2, which are the most diagnostically significant, explain 98% of the variance in the data obtained from spectra of: Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton menatgrophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale and Trichophyton tonsurans. This study offers a new diagnostic approach for the identification of dermatophytes. Being fast, reliable and cost-effective, it has the potential to be incorporated in the clinical practice to improve diagnostics of medically important fungi.

Isolation and antifungal activity evaluation of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad extract against some clinically important dermatophytes

Among the fungi, dermatophytes are the major cause of spectrum of superficial mycoses medically known as dermatophytosis (tinea) in human and animal. Treatment of these infections has still remained difficult. The aim of this survey was to evaluate in vitro anti-dermatophytic activity of ethanolic extract (EtOH) from Saturejakhuzestanica leaf (SKLE) against some clinically important dermatophyte species from the genera of Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of SKLE was tested against 14 dermatophyte strains of 5 species by using agar dilution method. Phytochemical screening of SKLE was carried out by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). The results of in vitro anti-dermatophytic activity of SKLE showed with MIC values between 1.250 and 10mg/mL. MIC90 and MIC50 values were as 0.625-1.250 and 0.156-0.312mg/mL, respectively. The MFC values of SKLE were in the range of 1.250-2.50mg/mL and possessed biological activity against dermatophytes. Morever, phytochemical analysis by HPTLC revealed that the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of SKL contain triterpenes which are known to have biological activity and it seems that this compound be responsible for the anti-dermatophytic activity of this plant. In conclusion, the results of in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and phytochemical screening revealed that SKLE had both fungistatic and fungicidal activities against dermatophytes and can potentially be helpful as a supplementary or alternative for treatment of dermatophytosis.

Clinico mycological study of tinea capitis

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp and scalp hair that is caused by dermatophytes most commonly in children. It is caused by genera Trichophyton and Microsporum</span><span lang="EN-IN">.</span>The <span lang="EN-GB">aims and objectives of the study were to study the epidemiological aspects, various etiological agents, clinical types, clinic etiological correlation and to note the changing trends.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">All new patients with tinea capitis were included for the study after KOH positivity. For total 98 patients in all age groups, fungal culture was performed from scalp scrapings. The epidemiological factors and the clinic etiological correlation were also assessed</span>.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">Tinea capitis was found most commonly in the 5-10 years age group with a male preponderance (69%). Non inflammatory types were more commonly observed in 66.3% of cases, with grey patch being the most common type. Kerion was most common in inflammatory group. <em>T. tonsurans</em> (31.1%) was the most frequently isolated fungus followed by <em>T. violaceum </em>and<em> T. mentagrophytes</em> in 25.7% each. In previous studies <em>T. violaceum</em> was the most common agent isolated in South India, whereas <em>T. tonsurans</em> is the most common agent in this study, showing a changing scenario. The clinic mycological correlation revealed that a single pathogen may give rise to various clinical types</span><span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In any location, the pathogenic species may change with time. A single pathogen may give rise to various clinical types.</p>

Effect of the aqueous, acidic and alcoholic extract of dried leaves of Erythroxylum coca var. coca (coca) in Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans in vitro

Objetivo: Evaluar la deplecion del suministro de sangre y el costo por donaciones indeterminadas del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen durante el 2014. Materiales y metodos: Estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal y analisis de costo-utilidad en donaciones con resultados en zona gris (valor de la muestra/ valor de corte entre los limites > 0.85 y 800 litros de sangre descartada genero >90 mil USD de costo por donaciones indeterminadas ocasionando un perjuicio economico al presupuesto hospitalario y una disminucion del suministro de sangre disponible para el tratamiento de pacientes en el Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen.

Teignes du cuir chevelu : principale mycose de l’enfant. Étude épidémiologique sur 10 ans à Tunis

Despite the changes in their epidemiology, and the improving level of hygiene of the population, tinea capitis is still considered a public health problem in our country, and is the most common type of dermatophytosis in our country. The aim of our study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and mycological features of tinea capitis in children encountered in the Tunis region. A retrospective study concerned 1600children aged 6months to 15years suspected to have tinea capitis was conducted in Parasitology-Mycology laboratory, Rabta hospital, over a 10-years period (2005-2014). Dermatophyte infections were confirmed using scalp scrapings examinated with direct microscopy using potash at 30% and/or culture on Sabouraud medium agar. Tinea capitis diagnosis was confirmed in 947cases (59.18%). The sex ratio was 2.61 and the average age of 6.28years with predominance in the age group of 4 to 8years (52.27%). The most common clinical presentation was ringworm (87.65%). Ringworm large plaque was predominant (65.9%). Direct examination was positive in 884cases (93.35%). Microsporic tinea was the most frequent (63.25%) followed by trichophytic tinea (29.78%). Positive cultures of dermatophytes were obtained in 912cases (96.30%). The following dermatophyte species were isolated: Microsporum canis (67%), Trichophyton violaceum (31.68%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (0.66%), Microsporum audouinii (0.22%), Trichophyton schoenleinii (0.22%) and Microsporum gypseum (0.22%). M.canis is currently the most frequently incriminated species in tinea capitis in Tunisia. This change is related to a change in behavior of our population, in fact the cat; main reservoir of M.canis cohabiting increasingly with Tunisian families.

Dermatófitos isolados do pelame de animais selvagens

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that can cause zoonosis. However, the role wild animals play in the transmission of these infections is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of dermatophytes on the haircoat of Brazilian wild mammals. Thirty-two healthy wild mammals from several taxa were studied: 17 were captive and 15 were free-living individuals. Samples were obtained by rubbing the haircoat with sterile carpets. Samples were cultured on Mycobiotic agar, and the plates were incubated at 25 ºC. Identification of the isolates was carried out on the basis of macro- and micromorphology. Dermatophytes were isolated from 9.5% of the animals: Microsporum gypseum from one maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), Microsporum cookie from one coati (Nasua nasua), and Trichophyton ajelloi from one bush dog (Speothos venaticus). These animals represent therefore sources of infection for both humans and other animals and are important for public health policies.

In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles of 12 Antifungal Drugs against 55 Trichophyton schoenleinii Isolates from Tinea Capitis Favosa Patients in Iran, Turkey, and China.

Trichophyton schoenleinii is an anthropophilic dermatophyte mainly causing tinea favosa of the scalp in certain regions of the world, especially Africa and Asia. We investigated the in vitro susceptibilities of 55 T. schoenleinii isolates collected over the last 30 years from Iran, Turkey, and China to 12 antifungals using the CLSI broth microdilution method. Our results revealed that terbinafine and ketoconazole were the most potent antifungal agents among those tested, independently of the geographic regions where strains were isolated.

Tinea Capitis in Children and Trichoscopic Criteria.

Tinea capitis is the most common pediatric superficial dermatophyte infection. The causative species vary, as for instance, Microsporum canis predominates in Europe, while Trichophyton tonsurans predominates in North America. Tinea capitis does not respond well to topical therapy alone, thus oral therapy is requisite. The drug of choice is griseofulvin; however in some countries, it is no longer available. Fungal culture should be requested in the persistent, scalp lesion and trichoscopy can put forward a speedy diagnosis by its characteristic findings. Scalp dermoscopy or “trichoscopy” represents a valuable, noninvasive technique for the evaluation of patients with hair loss due to tenia capitis. It is simple, quick, and easy to perform.

In silico characterization of tandem repeats in Trichophyton rubrum and related dermatophytes provides new insights into their role in pathogenesis.

Trichophyton rubrum is the most common etiological agent of dermatophytoses worldwide, which is able to degrade keratinized tissues. The sequencing of the genome of different dermatophyte species has provided a large amount of data, including tandem repeats that may play a role in genetic variability and in the pathogenesis of these fungi. Tandem repeats are adjacent DNA sequences of 2–200 nucleotides in length, which exert regulatory and adaptive functions. These repetitive DNA sequences are found in different classes of fungal proteins, especially those involved in cell adhesion, a determinant factor for the establishment of fungal infection. The objective of this study was to develop a Dermatophyte Tandem Repeat Database (DTRDB) for the storage and identification of tandem repeats in T. rubrum and six other dermatophyte species. The current version of the database contains 35 577 tandem repeats detected in 16 173 coding sequences. The repeats can be searched using entry parameters such as repeat unit length (nt—nucleotide), repeat number, variability score, and repeat sequence motif. These data were used to study the relative frequency and distribution of repeats in the sequences, as well as their possible functions in dermatophytes. A search of the database revealed that these repeats occur in 22–33% of genes transcribed in dermatophytes where they could be involved in the success of adaptation to the host tissue and establishment of infection. The repeats were detected in transcripts that are mainly related to three biological processes: regulation, adhesion, and metabolism. The database developed enables users to identify and analyse tandem repeat regions in target genes related to pathogenicity and fungal–host interactions in dermatophytes and may contribute to the discovery of new targets for the development of antifungal agents. Database URL: http://comp.mch.ifsuldeminas.edu.br/dtrdb/

Remarkable Works and Cases in the History of Medical Mycology in Japan.

Several pathogenic fungi and cases related to Japanese medical mycologists were reviewed. Trichosporon inkin (as Sarcinomyces inkin) was reported as a pathogen of scrotal lesion by Oho in 1921, and Trichosporon asahii was isolated from generalized keratotic lesions in 1922 by Akagi in Japan. They were once included in Trichophyton beigelii, but then based on revision using DNA molecular technology, were returned to their original names.Microsporum ferrugineum was reported by Ota as a causative dermatophyte of tinea capitis in Japan and surrounding areas. It was once classified under the genus Trichophyton, but after the discovery of characteristic rough-walled macroconidia belonging to genus Microsporum, the fungus was again assigned to the original name.

A Distribution of Keratinophilic Fungi Isolated from the Soil of Haeundae Beach in Korea

Keratinophilic fungus (KPF), a type of dermatophytes, is usually present as normal flora on the skin of humans and animals but can produce ring worm-like dermatophytosis by invading the skin in infected individuals. They are distributed worldwide, but their occurrences vary distinctively in accordance with the geographical location and environmental change. Because these fungi grow by degrading keratin, they are abundantly found on the skin, hair, and nails, which are rich in keratin. To investigate the presence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil, we selected a popular beach in South Korea, Haeundae Beach, where numerous people gather each year during the summer holidays. Hundred soil samples were analyzed using the hair-baiting technique, among which, a total of 23 colonies of KPF were identified from 21 soil samples. The identified KPF were Microsporum gypseum (43%), Chrysosporium spp. (35%), Trichophyton ajelloi (13%), and Microsporum cookie (9%). This study confirmed that pathogenic fungi can be found in places crowded by many people. Further research and continuous data collection are needed to confirm the distribution of pathogenic KPF.

38 Analysis of the animal model of tinea corporis

Objectives To explore common modeling methods and problems with the tinea corporis animal model. Methods We summarize the classification and pathogenesis of the tinea corporis animal model, and analyze the methods used to establish the model and the characteristics of the model. Results Animal models of tinea corporis are mainly established using the scratch method, sandpaper method, animal skin wound puncture, and inoculation with fungal strains such as Trichophyton mentagrophytesand Trichophyton rubrum. The most common method is inoculation with T. mentagrophytes into an infected skin wound. Tinea symptoms, a skin lesion and pathological changes indicate the successful establishment of a tinea corporis model. The scratch method is easy to perform and has better repeatability and induction for a short period of time. It meets clinical pathological indications and can be used for drug screening and validation. The puncture method is sensitive to Chinese herbal medicine and decoction and so can be used to study antifungal Chinese drugs with weak potency. Conclusions Although the existing animal model can reflect some clinical criteria or performance, it cannot fully reflect clinical characteristics. We should improve the animal model according to the clinical standards of Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Acknowledgments This work was financially supported by a project grant from the National ‘Eleventh Five-Year’ Support Program (Grant No. 2008BAI53B09), Henan Province Outstanding Scientific and Technological Innovation Team (Grant No. TCJ2014-391) and Zhengzhou Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Team Program (Grant No. 131PCXTD612).

Non-dermatophyte Dermatoses Mimicking Dermatophytoses in Animals.

Dermatophytoses in animals are fungal diseases of the skin caused by dermatophyte fungi of the genus Microsporum or Trichophyton. Because the infection is generally follicular, the most common clinical sign is one or many circular areas of alopecia with variable erythema, scaling and crusting, and the primary differential diagnoses are follicular infections, such as bacterial folliculitis and demodicosis. Although dermatophyte folliculitis or ringworm is the most commonly observed lesion of dermatophytoses in animals, other presentations may be observed according to the host species and the dermatophyte involved: dermatophyte folliculitis or ringworm, scaling and crusting in dermatophytosis due to Microsporum persicolor, nodule in case of kerion or mycetoma, matted hairs, seborrheic dermatosis or miliary dermatitis in cats, generalized exfoliative dermatoses in dogs, cats and horses, superficial non-follicular pustules, papules and macules in the Devon Rex cat, pruritic dermatophytoses in dogs, cats and horses, and onychomycosis in dogs, cats and horses. Since manifestations of dermatophytosis are highly variable, particularly in the cat, dermatophytosis should be considered in case of any annular, papular, nodular or pustular dermatoses, alopecic or not, sometimes pruritic, and nodular dermatoses as well.

Molecular identification of Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex strains in Hubei province

Objective To profile the intraspecific type of Trichophyton mentagrophytes clinically isolated from different anatomical sites of patients, and to compare the performance of different target sites for the identification of Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex strains. Methods A total of 48 Trichophyton mentagrophytes strains, which were clinically isolated from Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital in the latest 3 years, were included in this study. The phenotypes of these Trichophyton mentagrophytes isolates were primarily determined by morphological observation and the urease test. PCR was performed to amplify the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1-D2 domains of the large-subunit ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA) followed by DNA sequencing. Then, Clustal X2 software and MEGA 6.0 software were used to analyze the ITS and D1-D2 sequences and to build phylogenetic trees by the maximum-likelihood method (bootstrap= 2000) . Results As the ITS sequence-based phylogenetic tree showed, the probability that the 48 isolates were grouped into the Trichophyton interdigitale clade reached 92%. However, Trichophyton interdigitale could not be effectively differentiated from Trichophyton quinckeanum by the D1-D2 sequence-based phylogenetic tree. In addition, Trichophyton interdigitale showed various appearances, including woolen type, downy type, cream type, powdery type and granular type. Conclusions Trichophyton mentagrophytes can be identified to the species level based on the sequence of ITS region, which shows higher efficiency in identifying Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex than the D1-D2 domains. Morphological characteristics can not serve as the basis for intraspecific typing of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Key words: Trichophyton; DNA barcoding, taxonomic; DNA, ribosomal spacer; Ribosome subunits, large; Mycological typing techniques

Toward a Novel Multilocus Phylogenetic Taxonomy for the Dermatophytes

Type and reference strains of members of the onygenalean family Arthrodermataceae have been sequenced for rDNA ITS and partial LSU, the ribosomal 60S protein, and fragments of β-tubulin and translation elongation factor 3. The resulting phylogenetic trees showed a large degree of correspondence, and topologies matched those of earlier published phylogenies demonstrating that the phylogenetic representation of dermatophytes and dermatophyte-like fungi has reached an acceptable level of stability. All trees showed Trichophyton to be polyphyletic. In the present paper, Trichophyton is restricted to mainly the derived clade, resulting in classification of nearly all anthropophilic dermatophytes in Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, along with some zoophilic species that regularly infect humans. Microsporum is restricted to some species around M. canis, while the geophilic species and zoophilic species that are more remote from the human sphere are divided over Arthroderma, Lophophyton and Nannizzia. A new genus Guarromyces is proposed for Keratinomyces ceretanicus. Thirteen new combinations are proposed; in an overview of all described species it is noted that the largest number of novelties was introduced during the decades 1920–1940, when morphological characters were used in addition to clinical features. Species are neo- or epi-typified where necessary, which was the case in Arthroderma curreyi, Epidermophyton floccosum, Lophophyton gallinae, Trichophyton equinum, T. mentagrophytes, T. quinckeanum, T. schoenleinii, T. soudanense, and T. verrucosum. In the newly proposed taxonomy, Trichophyton contains 16 species, Epidermophyton one species, Nannizzia 9 species, Microsporum 3 species, Lophophyton 1 species, Arthroderma 21 species and Ctenomyces 1 species, but more detailed studies remain needed to establish species borderlines. Each species now has a single valid name. Two new genera are introduced: Guarromyces and Paraphyton. The number of genera has increased, but species that are relevant to routine diagnostics now belong to smaller groups, which enhances their identification.

The Changing Face of Dermatophytic Infections Worldwide.

Dermatophytes evolve along with the geography and socioeconomic conditions. Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton schoenleinii acted as the major pathogens of superficial fungal diseases 100years ago, but their frequency decreased dramatically since the middle of the twentieth century and they are limited to some less-developed countries nowadays; meanwhile, frequency of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum canis increased gradually, and these fungi have become the major species globally. Some other dermatophytes, i.e., Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum and Microsporum ferrugineum, are mainly endemic in some parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. At present, T. rubrum is the leading pathogen for skin and nail fungal infections, whereas M. canis, T. tonsurans and T. violaceum present as the predominant dermatophytes involved in tinea capitis. Population mobility, changes in human lifestyle and advents of antifungal drugs will continually drive the dermatophyte evolution in the skin microenvironment. Comprehensive observation is needed to better understand this kind of organisms and prospect the trends of their changes in future.

Etiological features of onychomycosis in the Krasnodar territory. Choice of method systemic therapy

Successful treatment of onychomycosis associated with the necessity of microbiological research aimed at the selection of culture with proven etiological significance. Features of morphological and functional characteristics of the nail, poly etiology of onychomycosis, the availability of labor input in the use of topical antifungal drugs and irrational approaches to the treatment of various forms of the disease, as well as the duration and high cost of treatment create difficulties in the treatment of this contingent of patients . Goal. To study the etiology of onychomycosis in the Krasnodar region, and a comparative analysis of the efficacy and tolerability of antifungal drug regimens "Irunine". Materials and methods. A total of 64 patients (39 men and 25 women) with complaints about the change of nail plates in the hands and feet. The diagnosis of onychomycosis was established for 46 (71.88%) patients, of which 2 patients in the study group were not included. The rest were randomly selected and divided into 2 equivalent groups of 22 patients. Patients of the 1st group received "Irunine" by the method of pulse - therapy, and the patients in group 2 on continuous therapy scheme. Results. In the study of the samples from the nail plates, the major causative agent of onychomycosis was T. rubrum - 61,37%. Candida spp. was diagnosed in 11%. Equally often - at 9.09%, were the growth of T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and T. tonsurans. Furthermore, associations have been identified T. rubrum and Candida albicans - 6,82%, T. rubrum and Aspergillus versicolor - 2,27%. The result of our study showed a high clinical and mycological efficacy of the drug "Irunine" in the treatment of onychomycosis. Comparative analysis of this drug therapy results showed that the method of pulse therapy, compared with continuous therapy scheme is more efficient and economically advantageous, since it allows to reduce the amount of drugs, and therefore significantly reduce the risk of adverse reactions and improve its tolerability. Conclusion. The findings suggest that the leading position in patients with onychomycosis mycobiota hold dermatomitsetami genus Trichophyton. Pulse therapy with "Irunine" is a priority and can be recommended for use as a systemic drug for the treatment of onychomycosis, as a highly effective and safe drug.