title: Molds in onychomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onychomycosis is a major cause of nail dystrophy. The causative organisms in onychomycosis are dermatophytes, Candida and molds. A variety of molds have been isolated from nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nail scrapings and clippings were collected from 100 cases and inoculated on slants containing SDA with cycloheximide 0.5 mg/mL, chloramphenicol 0.05 mg/mL, and SDA with chloramphenicol 0.05 mg/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The culture positivity rate for molds was 22%. The predominant mold isolates were Aspergillus species (86.4%, Fusarium oxysporum (4.5%), Curvularia species (4.5%) and Penicillium species (4.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary invasion of nails by molds can cause onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Skin and V.D., Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramani
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramani
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shivananda
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies