Curvularia species is a genus of dematiaceous fungi that resides primarily in soil, and rarely causes human infections. The infection caused by Curvularia species usually occurs in immunocompromised patients, but a few reported cases have occurred in immunocompetent patients with no prior disease. A 55-year-old woman, previously in good health, complained of a dystrophic nail of the left big toe. Sampling from the lesion was made by scraping of the diseased nail plate. The specimens were examined in KOH and inoculated on slants containing Sabouraud's dextrose agar with chloramphenicol and Dermatophyte test Medium (DTM) which were incubated at room temperature. Direct microscopic examination, using KOH, showed septated hyphae. Culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar yielded a filamentous dematiaceous fungus, which was identified as Curvularia species. This is the first case of onychomycosis as well as human infection caused by Curvularia species in Korea. ME: Curvularia species, Onychomycosis
Agar ; Arthrodermataceae ; Chloramphenicol ; Female ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea* ; Middle Aged ; Onychomycosis* ; Soil ; Toes*