Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Dermatophytes Isolated from Small and Large Ruminants in Egypt

Rouby, Sherin Reda; Abdel Aziz, Sahar; Mahmoud, Mourad; Bahaa, Manar

doi:10.21608/jvmr.2023.194147.1083

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Dermatophytes Isolated from Small and Large Ruminants in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62511, Egypt.

² Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62511, Egypt.

³ Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62511, Egypt.

10.21608/jvmr.2023.194147.1083

Abstract

Dermatophytosis is an infectious disease of worldwide importance caused by pathogenic keratinolytic fungi named dermatophytes in both animals and humans. In Egypt, the mixed grazing of small and large ruminants increases the threat of various dermatophytes interspecies transmission among animals and consequently to humans. The current study motivates on the importance of rapid and accurate diagnosis of dermatophytosis among animals and the limitations associated with conventional methods of diagnosis. The current study was performed to investigate the prevalence of dermatophytosis among calves, cows, and sheep reared together in a private farm from September 2021 through April 2022 and identify the causative dermatophytes by both conventional cultural and molecular approaches. The overall prevalence of dermatophytosis in the investigated farm was 15.2% (40% in calves, 14.3% in sheep and 10% in adult cows). On mycological examination, colonies appeared rapidly and become powdery to granular with white to cream color on the surface. The recovery of T. mentagrophytes from clinical samples was confirmed by PCR targeting ITS region followed by sequencing analyses. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. mentagrophytes sequences obtained in the current study are clustered along with KY765897.1 and KY765898.1 isolated from cattle. Results of blood serum urea and creatinine didn’t show statistical difference between control non infected and infected animals. The current investigation concluded that T. mentagrophytes is the most prevalent species of dermatophytes in the farm which poses a high predicted risk to the humans either through direct or indirect contact. Sequencing analysis of the ITS region is a faster, more accurate, and more reliable diagnostic tool that can replace the conventional methods for rapid recognition of dermatophytes species.

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