Prevalence of dermatophytes infections at three elementary schools in Cape Verde

Abstract Dermatophytoses are infectious skin diseases of public health importance because of their transmissibility and high prevalence, especially among school-age children. This is the first study aiming to estimate and report the burden of dermatophytoses on school-age children in Cape Verde. Children attending the afternoon shift of three elementary schools in the city of Achada Igreja, Cape Verde were observed; samples were collected from 60 students with suspected lesions, including hair, nails, and skin scraping. A total of 19 dermatophyte isolates were obtained, corresponding to a point prevalence of 7.63%. Morphological species identification demonstrated 3 different species Trichophyton soudanense, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton violaceum; re-identification by sequencing the (Internal transcribed spacer) ITS-5.8S rDNA region revealed T. soudanense as the most prevalent species, with only one case of T. rubrum. We document T. soudanense infections in the skin, nails, and scalp, and not only as an agent of tinea capitis as described before. This study reinforces the need of using culture and accurate identification methodologies for gathering epidemiological trends of dermatophytoses throughout the archipelago, especially in school-age students.