Monitoring of Dermatophytosis incidence in domestic dogs and cats in Kharkiv, Ukraine

The spread of dermatophytosis among animals and humans in the localities of Ukraine in particular in the city of Kharkiv is due to the presence of range of the most susceptible animals. This information mainly concerns dogs and cats that can be affected by dermatophytosis and may be a reservoir of dermatophyte fungus. Particularly important is that domestic dogs and cats represent a significant epidemiological threat to the population. The purpose of the research was to monitor the morbidity of dermatophytosis in domestic dogs and cats in Kharkiv. Diagnostic studies of dermatophytosis morbidity level determination in domestic dogs and cats were performed complexly including the clinical and epizootic data, microscopic and mycological laboratory tests conducted according to generally accepted methods (Kovalenko et al., 2017; Sutton, Fothergill and Rinaldi, 2001). Dermatophytosis was diagnosed among 231 animals in the study of 1,277 domestic dogs kept by the inhabitants of the city of Kharkiv which was in 18.09% of samples. Dermatophytosis was also detected in 615 animals which constitutes 50.25% in the study of 1,124 cats. The cultures of dermatophytosis agent Microsporum canis were isolated from 126 dogs (18.98%) and 110 cats (40.74%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes cultures were isolated from 16 dogs (2.41%) and 16 cats (5.93%). The percentage of isolated cultures of mold and yeast-like fungi in the studies of sick dogs and cats were 38.55% and 22.25% respectively. Obtained results indicate quite high level of the dermatophytosis spreading among domestic dogs and cats in the city of Kharkiv.

Microscopy and culture of fungal disease

The clinical mycological laboratory strives to provide an accurate and rapid diagnosis of suspected fungal disease, or exclude its possibility. The most common and most traditional methods for demonstrating fungi in tissue and body fluids are microscopy and culture. The techniques discussed in this chapter are not exhaustive but have proved to be efficient for the visualization and recovery of fungi from clinical samples. In general, these methods do not require expensive or specialist equipment. The clinician’s presumptive diagnosis may help with the selection of the most appropriate specimen and aid the laboratory in the method of processing and selection of the primary culture media. However, all too often there is scant clinical information provided to the laboratory, and indeed a fungal infection may initially not have been suspected.

NEW DATA ON MACROMYCETE SPECIES (BASIDIOMYCOTA) IN MACEDONIA

A study of mycodiversity in Macedonia is underway. The interest in macrofungi studies in Macedonia has been growing in the past 20 years. According to the research conducted up to now, approximately 2,500 macromy-cetes species have been recorded in the country. A half of this number is a result of the field and taxonomic work in the Mycological Laboratory in the last decade. This work represents a contribution to the Macedonian mycobiota with some rare fungi species.

Rapid diagnostic testing of toxigenic microfungi isolated from foodstuffs

The aim of this study was to experimentally test chromogenic media and reagents for a rapid diagnosis of toxigenic microfungi Aspergillus flavus, A. carbonarius, A. ochraceus, Penicillium expansum, P. verrucosum, and P. citrinum isolated from foodstuffs. Toxigenic microfungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium species are considered to be of major relevance for human and animal health. The presence of these toxigenic microfungi in foodstuffs and feedstuffs raises a potential risk of mycotoxins (for example presence of aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, ochratoxin A, patulin or citrinin). In order to reduce the risks for consumers’ health, it is necessary to set rapid methods for toxigenic microfungi isolated from foodstuffs and also feedstuffs. Application of chromogenic media and reagents presents one of the possibilities. The selected strains of toxigenic microfungi, producing mycotoxins, were tested on chromogenic media. The chromogenic media and reagents in our study are suitable for a microbiological and mycological laboratory. The benefits of chromogenic media and reagents include a rapid diagnosis within 48–72 h, simple preparation, easy availability and relatively low prices.

Analysis of the genetic polymorphism of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides cerebriformis "Moore" by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 28S ribosomal DNA sequencing: Paracoccidioides cerebriformis revisited

Our purpose was to compare the genetic polymorphism of six samples of P. brasiliensis (113, 339, BAT, T1F1, T3B6, T5LN1), with four samples of P. cerebriformis (735, 741, 750, 361) from the Mycological Laboratory of the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis (RAPD). RAPD profiles clearly segregated P. brasiliensis and P. cerebriformis isolates. However, the variation on band patterns among P. cerebriformis isolates was high. Sequencing of the 28S rDNA gene showed nucleotide conservancy among P. cerebriformis isolates, providing basis for taxonomical grouping, and disclosing high divergence to P. brasiliensis supporting that they are in fact two distinct species. Moreover, DNA sequence suggests that P. cerebriformis belongs in fact to the Aspergillus genus.