Cutaneous Curvularia lunata Infections: the First Report in Japan and a Literature Review

Abstract

Curvularia lunata is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus found in soil and decaying plants. This fungus is well known as a causative agent of keratitis and sinusitis cases, but cutaneous infections are rare. Here we present the first report of a cutaneous C. lunata infection in Japan and review previous cases published in the English literature. The patient was an 81-year-old healthy Japanese male with an asymptomatic maceration, scaling lesion, rhagades and pigmentation in the webspace between the fourth and fifth toes of the left foot. Direct examination of a skin scraping in 10% potassium hydroxide solution revealed dark brown septate hyphae. C. lunata was isolated and identified using both morphological and molecular methods. The lesion disappeared after two months of topical treatment with luliconazole ointment.