Modulation of ERG gene expression in fluconazole-resistant human and animal isolates of Trichophyton verrucosum

Dermatophytes are a group of eukaryotic microorganisms characterized by high capacity to colonize keratinized structures such as the skin, hair, and nails. Over the past years, the incidence of infections caused by zoophilic species, e.g., Trichophyton verrucosum, has been increasing in some parts of the world, especially in Europe. Moreover, the emergence of recalcitrant dermatophytoses and in vitro resistant dermatophytes has become a cause of concern worldwide. Here, we analyzed the mechanisms underlying resistance to fluconazole among clinical isolates of T. verrucosum. Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to determine the relative expression levels of mRNA transcripts of ERG3, ERG6, and ERG11 genes in the fungal samples using the housekeeping gene GAPDH as a reference. Our results showed that the upregulation of the ERG gene expression is a possible mechanism of resistance to fluconazole in this species. Furthermore, ERG11 is the most statistically significantly overexpressed gene in the pool of fluconazole-resistant T. verrucosum isolates. Additionally, we have demonstrated that exposure to fluconazole increases the levels of expression of ERG genes in fluconazole-resistant isolates of T. verrucosum. In conclusion, this study has shown one of the possible mechanisms of resistance to fluconazole among zoophilic dermatophytes, which involves the maintenance of high levels of expression of ERG genes after drug exposure.

Mycotic infections in animals in India: An update

This review traces the early records of mycotic infections in India, and presents an update of animal mycoses reported from several parts of India. The types of mycoses covered are the dermatophytosis (ringworm) in domestic animals due to well-known species of zoophilic dermatophytes, viz. Trichophyton simii, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis and M. nanum, and the geophilic dermatophyte, M. gypseum, Aspergillus spp, Cryptococcus species and other yeast like fungi, histoplasma and blastomyces. The brief clinical and demographic features of infections in different animals are described. A particularly noteworthy finding in literature search is the report of clinical infections in one dog and two cows by an anthropophilic dermatophyte, T. rubrum from Belgachia, Kolkata, West Bengal in 1954. Veterinary scientists are urged to investigate the possible occurrence of infections in animals due to other pathogenic fungi including the dimorphic ones like Histoplasma and Blastomyces.

Tinea barbae profunda caused by Trichophyton rubrum – an autoinoculation from a primary Tinea pedis

Tinea barbae profunda is a rare mycotic infection of the beard, caused by dermatophytic fungi. Patients with suppressed immune systems and severe comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, are more prone to this disease, but it could also be seen in agricultural workers and stockbreeders. The most frequent etiological agents of this infection are the zoophilic dermatophytes. But in rare cases, an infection with anthropophilic dermatophytes as Trichophyton rubrum can be observed. We present a case of a 55-year-old patient with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and tinea barbae profunda, caused by Trichophyton rubrum, as a consequence of autoinoculation from concomitant Tinea pedis. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics before admission to the clinic, but with no effect due to incorrect diagnosis and lack of mycological laboratory investigations. A satisfactory therapeutic outcome was achieved after a two-month course with antimycotic medications.

Identification of Zoophilic Dermatophytes Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Dermatophytoses represent a major health burden in animals and man. Zoophilic dermatophytes usually show a high specificity to their original animal host but a zoonotic transmission is increasingly recorded. In humans, these infections elicit highly inflammatory skin lesions requiring prolonged therapy even in the immunocompetent patient. The correct identification of the causative agent is often crucial to initiate a targeted and effective therapy. To that end, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) represents a promising tool. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of species identification of zoophilic dermatophytes using MALDI-TOF MS. The investigation of isolates from veterinary clinical samples suspicious of dermatophytoses suggests a good MALDI-TOF MS based identification of the most common zoophilic dermatophyte Microsporum canis. Trichophyton (T.) spp. usually achieved scores only around the cutoff value for secure species identification because of a small number of reference spectra. Moreover, these results need to be interpreted with caution due to the close taxonomic relationship of dermatophytes being reflected in very similar spectra. In our study, the analysis of 50 clinical samples of hedgehogs revealed no correct identification using the provided databases, nor for zoophilic neither for geophilic causative agents. After DNA sequencing, adaptation of sample processing and an individual extension of the in-house database, acceptable identification scores were achieved (T. erinacei and Arthroderma spp., respectively). A score-oriented distance dendrogram revealed clustering of geophilic isolates of four different species of the genus Arthroderma and underlined the close relationship of the important zoophilic agents T. erinacei, T. verrucosum and T. benhamiae by forming a subclade within a larger cluster including different dermatophytes. Taken together, MALDI-TOF MS proofed suitable for the identification of zoophilic dermatophytes provided fresh cultures are used and the reference library was previously extended with spectra of laboratory-relevant species. Performing independent molecular methods, such as sequencing, is strongly recommended to substantiate the findings from morphologic and MALDI-TOF MS analyses, especially for uncommon causative agents.

HUBUNGAN WILAYAH KERJA TERHADAP KEJADIAN JAMUR PADA KARYAWAN PT.PERKEBUNAN NUSANTARA VII

Dermatophytosis was a disease in tissues that contain substances on the horn for examplestratum corneum epidermidis, hair and nails caused by dermatophyte fungi group. Dermatophytosishad keratinofilik nature, each species of dermatophytes had an affinity for a particularhost. Zoophilic dermatophytes which primarily affects animals, and humans. This study aimed todetermine the relationship of the working area on the incidence of fungal infections of the employeesof PT. Plantation Nusantara VII in North Bengkulu. This research was observational analyticcross-sectional design, the independent variable was the area of employment, the dependentvariable was the incidence of fungal infections. The population was 29 employees PT. PerkebunanNusantara VII, samples of all employees PT.Perkebunan Nusantara VII with a total samplingtechnique. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution and bivariate using Chi-Squaretest. The results revealed that the majority of employees working in the processing of fungal infectionthat is equal to 88.2%, which was statistically significant relationship between the workingarea with the incidence of fungal infections. Director PT.Perkebunan Nusantara VII shouldpay more attention to the safety of its employees with a firmer giving rules and providing extensionignore the dangers of the use of personal protective equipment can cause fungal infections.

Dermatophytosis Caused by Microsporum canis in a Free-Living Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus).

Background: Chrysocyon brachyurus is a South American wild canid considered a species near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is classified as vulnerable in the National List of Endangered Species. With the increase of the contact between domestic animals, human population and wild animals, there was a greater exposure of the maned wolf to pathogens. Due to the importance of its conservation, the knowledge of emerging infectious diseases that affect this species becomes essential. This report aims to describe the first diagnosed case of dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis in a maned wolf.Case: A free-living female maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), approximately 60 days old, was rescued with presence of alopecia, non-pruritic lesions, one of circular shape located in the nasal plane and the other with signs of scaling and crusts in the region of the left pina. The animal was active, in good general condition and without other significantchanges to clinical examination. Skin scraping was performed for mycological culture of both lesions. Fungal growth on Sabouraud’s agar identified Microsporum canis. Topical therapy with ketoconazole ointment and cleaning of lesions with 0.2% chlorhexidine was instituted. After 20 days of treatment, remission of clinical signs and repilation of affected areas were observed. New mycological cultures of both areas were carried out, which were negative for Microsporum canis.Discussion: Although Microsporum canis is described as causing dermatophytosis in several animal species, it has apparently not yet been reported in maned wolves. Microsporum canis is one of the most isolated zoophilic dermatophytes in domestic cats and is also cited in reports of symptomatic wild felids, such as tigers, in which it has been identified as either the only agent of infection or in association with Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The occurrence is also high in domestic dogs. In the wild canids, Microsporum gypseum has been described in the gray wolf, Trichophyton mentagrophytes in wild foxes, and Microsporum canis in red fox, among others. The finding of zoophilic and geophilic dermatophyte fungi in healthy, free-living and captive wild animals confirms their role as carriers, probable reservoirs and disseminators of these organisms in the environment, and the potential risk they represent as causes of zoonoses. Zoophilic dermatophytes are usually transmitted by contact between individuals and contaminated fomites. In the case of M. canis in the red fox the contact was an asymptomatic domestic cat. In the present case the transmission was not determined, since the animal was rescued from the wild. Regarding the age group, young animals are more susceptible to dermatophytes than adults, probably related to the greater immunity of adults due to previous contacts or even the immaturity of the immune system of the young. The dermatophytosis diagnosis is generally based on anamnesis, physical examination of the lesion, Wood’s lamp examination, microscopic skin scraping, fungal culture, or even histology and PCR tests. In the present case, the final diagnosis was based upon by fungal culture in Sabouraud agar, which allowed to identify the dermatophyte species and,thus, the possible source of infection. Dermatophyte infections can be treated with systemic or topical antifungal medications. Because it was a young animal, it was chosen in the present case only for topical use, which proved to be adequate, probably due to the action of the drug in the areas of alopecia skin and the improvement of the systemic condition of theanimal. Knowing that the maned wolf is considered as a vulnerable species, it is important to know the diseases that affect this species, in order to carry out, when necessary, disease monitoring programs, preventive and therapies, which is essential for its preservation.Keywords: wild animal, disease, skin, dermatophyte.

Psoriasiform Dermatophytosis in a Bulgarian Child

Although tinea capitis is the most common fungal infection in children, significant changes have been reported in its epidemiology worldwide, as a result from certain geographic, climatic and cultural differences in one hand, as well as the changes in its etiologic pattern. The clinical manifestation of the infection and the stage of inflammation vary from mild desquamation to severe suppurative indurated plaques in kerion - like the pattern, depending on the nature of the etiologic agent and the host-immune response. We report a case of tinea capitis profunda, caused by Trichophyton verrucosum in a 5 – year - old male patient, presented as a severe scalp and cutaneous desquamation, resembling histopathologically psoriasis, associated with severely indurated ringworm plaque in the temporal area. The performed histological examination revealed a psoriasiform pattern, without the typical Munro abscesses or Kogoj pustules. With the presented case, we want to emphasize the importance of the host’s immune reaction to zoophilic dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton verrucosum, resulting in severe and often atypical clinical manifestation, as well as the possible “Id reaction”, to avoid or minimise misdiagnosis and delayed therapy. The presented patient was treated with topical oleum acidy salicylic 10% and Terbinafine 125 mg daily with significant resolution of the complaints within the following two months.

Dermatophytoses in domesticated animals

Dermatophytes are among the most frequent causes of ringworm infections in domesticated animals. They are known to serve as reservoirs of the zoophilic dermatophytes and these infections have important zoonotic implication. In Nigeria and probably West Africa, there are not many studies on the incidence of dermatophytosis in domesticated animals. In the current study, 538 domesticated animals with clinically suggestive lesions were investigated for dermatophytes. Identification of dermatophyte species was performed by macro- and micro morphological examination of colonies and by biochemical methods. In the cases of isolates that had atypical morphology and/or biochemical test results, the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS 2) sequencing was performed. Out of this number, 214 (39.8%) were found to be colonized by a variety of ten species of dermatophytes. M. canis was the most frequently isolated species (37.4%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (22.9%) and T. verrucosum (15.9%). M. persicolor and T. gallinae were jointly the least species isolated with a frequency of 0.55% respectively. The recovery of dermatophyte isolates previously shown to be common etiological agents of dermatophytosis especially from children in the same region suggests that animal to human transmission may be common. Possible implications and recommendations are discussed.