Morpho-Molecular Characterization of Soil Inhabitant Dermatophytes from Ahvaz,Southwest of Iran,a High Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microsporum fulvum</Emphasis>

Occurrence and diversity of dermatophyte mycoflora in 298 soil samples from Ahvaz, Southwest of Iran was investigated by using the hair-baiting technique. The samples were collected during spring (n = 210) and autumn (n = 88) of 2015, and the fungal isolates were identified based on the macro- and micro-morphology of colonies and with further ITS-rDNA RFLP and sequencing. Totally, 60 soil samples (20.1%) were positive for dermatophyte growth whose pH varied from 7.0 to 7.9. The highest (26.6%) and the lowest (14.3%) recovery rates were from the animal resorts and the streets soils samples, respectively. Seasonally, 16.7% of the spring samples and 28.4% of the autumn samples were positive. Based on molecular identification, three species of two genera were identified viz. M. fulvum (n = 57), M. canis (n = 2) and zoophilic Trichophyton interdigitale (n = 1). As a specific goal in the study, differentiation of the species in Microsporum gypseum complex was established by measuring the mean length and width of macroconidia in some strains of M. gypseum, M. fulvum and M. incurvatum. Mean size for macroconidia length and width in three species showed that M. gypseum and M. incurvatum can morphologically be differentiated from M. fulvum but not from each other. M. fulvum was the most abundant species isolated from the soils of Ahvaz; however, to comprehensively specify the distribution pattern of geophilic dermatophytes in the soils of this city further investigations are needed. Identification based on micro-morphometric is not effective for species distinction in M. gypseum complex, while molecular procedures based on sequencing of certain DNA regions are the most reliable and applicable strategies for this purpose.     

Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) of rDNA of appendaged and non-appendaged strains of Microsporum gypseum reveals Microsporum appendiculatum as its synonym

Recently a new taxon of geophilic dermatophytes was established as Microsporum appendiculatum Bhat and Mariam, based on the presence of appendaged macroconidia. However, such appendages are already known in the related species Microsporum gypseum. We conducted a survey of soil in central India as a part of a microbial biodiversity project and obtained two strains of M. gypseum with appendaged macroconidia. Using phenotypical characterization in combination with sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, we found that all strains of appendaged species are identical. Therefore M. appendiculatum is regarded as a synonym of M. gypseum.     

Tinea Infection with Scutula-like Lesions Caused by Microsporum Gypseum in a SLE Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Scutula are characteristic lesions of tinea favosa or favus; the most frequently identified causative organism is Trichophyton schoenleinii. Although scutula-like lesions were described in Microsporum gypseum infection, their presence on glabrous skin in a patient with SLE has not been reported previously. We report a case of tinea infection with scutula-like lesions caused by Microsporum gypseum in a SLE patient, who was treated with topical terbinafine cream, and the lesions resolved completely. In addition, we reviewed the reported cases about this rare clinical manifestation caused by Microsporum gypseum in the medical literature.     

Some observations on fungal succession during decomposition of wool in soil

Fungal succession on woolen baits was studied under laboratory conditions for more than one year. It was found that the initial colonizers on woolen baits are non-keratinophilic fungi, while the late colonizers are keratinophilic fungi. Six phases in total were observed during fungal succession. The successional trends obtained during decomposition of wool in soil samples collected from plain and hilly areas were almost the same, except for the dominant colonization in the last phase, which was constituted byChrysosporium tropicum for the plain, butMicrosporum gypseum andM. fulvum for the hilly area.     

Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from floors in Roman kindergarten and secondary schools

We examined the dust collected from the floors of forty classrooms, twenty in kindergarten schools (children aged 2–5) and twenty in secondary schools (students aged 11–14) in order to determine the diffusion of keratinophilic fungi in respect to such different factors as human presence and children's age. In the kindergarten schools 268 colonies of keratinophilic fungi were isolated: 50 were Microsporum, 6 Trichophyton and 212 Chrysosporium species. Members of the Chrysosporium genus were found the widely diffused. It is interesting to note the isolation of M. gypseum in two schools. In the secondary schools 847 colonies of keratinophilic fungi were isolated: 727 were Chrysosporium, 81 Microsporum, 38 Trichophyton and 1 Epidermophyton species. Again the Chrysosporium species were the most widely diffused. It is remarkable to point out the isolation of pathogenic species such as Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and the rather rare Microsporum vanbreuseghemii.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from hospital dust and soils of public places at Gulbarga,India

Keratinophilic fungi were isolated from corridor dust of 11 hospitals and soils of 21 public places using a hair baiting technique. A total of 41 species belonging to 24 genera were recovered. Among the dermatophytes and related species, Microsporum gypseum was predominant, followed by Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, M. nanum and Ch. tropicum. Other species were represented by 32 species belonging to 21 genera. Most of the species isolated are known to be agents of human and animal infection or have been isolated from human and animal lesions. The fungi observed here are discussed in relation to their global distribution.     

Disseminated dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum gypseum in two patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Microsporum gypseum is not a common agent of human dermatophytosis. To the best of our knowledge, this fungus has not been described in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We report a tinea corporis infection with atypical presentation caused by M. gypseum in two patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) studied at the São Paulo Hospital (São Paulo, Brazil).This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of bioactivities of chlorokojic acid derivatives against dermatophytes couplet with cytotoxicity

In an attempt to find novel antifungal agents with improved activity, a series of compounds bearing 6-chloromethyl-3-hydroxy-2-substituted 4H-pyran-4-one moiety were synthesized and examined for their cytotoxic evaluation and antifungal activities against both standard and isolated dermatophytic fungal species Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei and Epidermophyton floccosum.     

Dermatophytes isolated from symptomatic dogs and cats in Tuscany,Italy during a 15-year-period

Between January, 1, 1986 and December, 31, 2000, dermatological specimens from 10.678 animals (7.650 cats and 3.028 dogs) were examined for dermatophytes. All the animals presented clinical signs of ringworm. Two thousand-four hundred fifty-six of the 10.678 (23%) examined animals scored positive for dermatophytes, 566 out of 3.028 canine (18.7%) and 1890 out of 7.650 feline specimens (24.7%). Microsporum canis constituted 83% and 97% of the isolated dermatophytes respectively in dogs and cats, M. gypseum represented 13% and 2.6% and T. mentagrophytes 5.5% and 0.2%. A sexual predisposition for mycotic infections was not observed. The animals with less than 1 year of age were more frequently infected. Canine toy breeds showed a significantly higher (P < 0.001) prevalence of infections by M. canis. Microsporum gypseum was mostly recorded from sporting (hunting) breeds [such as T. mentagrophytes (6.7%)]. Microsporum canis was isolated from long-haired cats with a ratio of 2:1 versus short-haired cats, while M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes were never recovered from Persian cats. The annual distribution of the infections in dogs showed a significantly higher incidence for M. gypseum in summer versus winter and spring, while the recovery rate of M. canis from cats was very significantly higher in fall and winter than in summer and spring. Trichophyton mentagrophytes did not show a similar seasonal distribution.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of fungi from soil using the keratin-baiting technique

Of 236 soil samples baited with wool, some 71.2% (168) produced fungal growth. Gliocladium (25.0%), Paecilomyces (14.8%), Trichophyton (11.9%) species were the most prevalent in soil moistened with sterile distilled water (SDW) containing antibiotics. On the other hand, in soil moistened with SDW only, Trichophyton (32.6%), Paecilomyces (27.5%), Diheterospora (16.5%), Gliocladium (13.6%) and Fusarium (13.1%) species were more common. Of the known potential pathogens, the Paecilomyces and Fusarium species were frequently isolated from soil collected in parks, cleared areas, paddocks, rivers and roadsides. All five sites are areas of human and animal activity. The keratinolytic species were Microsporum cookei, M. gypseum complex, Trichophyton ajelloi and T. terrestre, which are regarded as nonpathogens with the exception of M. cookei and M. gypseum complex.     

Incidence of Keratinophilic Fungi from the Selected Soils of Kaziranga National Park,Assam (India)

Seventy-eight soil samples were collected from the various locations in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park (Assam), India, during April to October 2009 and screened for the presence of keratinophilic fungi using the hair baiting techniques for isolation. Thirty-nine isolates were recovered and identified by recognition of their macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/GenBank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Eleven species related to seven genera were recorded viz. Aphanoascus durus (1.28%), Arthroderma tuberculatum (3.84%), Arthroderma corniculatum (1.28%), Chrysosporium indicum (16.66%), C. tropicum (3.84%), Ctenomyces serratus (5.12%), Keratinophyton punsolae (1.28%), Microsporum appendiculatum (1.28%), Microsporum gypseum complex (11.53%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (11.28%) and T. terrestre (2.56%).     

Antifungal activity of some mediterranean algae

Summary The antifungal activity of 15 mediterranean algae species on some dermatophyte strains (Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) and pathogenic yeasts (Candida albicans, C. guillermondii, C. krusei, C. tropicalis and Torulopsis glabrata) has been tested following a modification of Aubert's technique.Among the algae species studied, Falkenbergia rufolanosa is the most active in front of all the fungi tested.     

Antifungal property of quaternized chitosan and its derivatives

Five water-soluble chitosan derivatives were carried out by quaternizing either iodomethane or N-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (Quat188) as a quaternizing agent under basic condition. The degree of quaternization (DQ) ranged between 28 ± 2% and 90 ± 2%. The antifungal activity was evaluated by using disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) methods against Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum), Trichophyton mentagrophyte (T. mentagrophyte), and Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum) at pH 7.2. All quaternized chitosans and its derivatives showed more effective against T. rubrum than M. gypseum and T. mentagrophyte. The MIC and MFC values were found to range between 125-1000 μg/mL and 500-4000 μg/mL, respectively against all fungi. Our results indicated that the quaternized N-(4-N,N-dimethylaminocinnamyl) chitosan chloride showed highest antifungal activity against T. rubrum and M. gypseum compared to other quaternized chitosan derivatives. The antifungal activity tended to increase with an increase in molecular weight, degree of quaternization and hydrophobic moiety against T. rubrum. However, the antifungal activity was depended on type of fungal as well as chemical structure of the quaternized chitosan derivatives.     

SDS-PAGE separation of dermatophyte antigens,and western immunoblotting in feline dermatophytosis

Water-soluble antigens liberated from the disrupted mycelium of nine dermatophytes (seven isolates ofMicrosporum canis, one each ofMicrosporum gypseum andTrichophyton mentagrophytes) were compared by analytical slab SDS-PAGE. No substantial differences were observed between the protein bands of theM. Canis isolates, but certain distinctive bands were apparent in the other two species examined. Western immunoblotting usingM. canis-derived antigens separated by SDS-PAGE was used to investigate the humoral immune response in 79 cats with naturally-occurring dermatophytosis (72 withM. canis, six withM. gypseum and one withT. mentagrophytes) and this information was compared to results of immunoblots from 46 control (non-dermatophyte exposed) cats. Seven dominant bands (bands which occurred frequently and stained heavily) were identified in immunoblots from the dermatophyte-infected cats with apparent molecular weights varying between 39 and 120 kD. None of these bands were totally specific markers for dermatophytosis as a variable proportion of the control cats showed reactivity to all these proteins. However, most (73%) of the dermatophyte-infected cats showed reactivity to six or seven of the identified bands whereas most (80%) of the control cats showed reactivity to between zero and three of these bands (p<0.005). Western immunoblotting could be used to select individual immunodominant antigens for further evaluation of protective (cell-mediated) immunity.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from a small pool

The keratinophilic fungi occurring in the water of a small pool were examined by membrane filtration with monthly sampling throughout a year. Chrysosporium evolceanui, C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, Trichophyton terrestre and Microsporum gypseum were the most frequently found species. The results of this survey are discussed.     

Keratinolytic fungi in Egyptian soils

The frequency of occurrence of keratinolytic fungi in seventy soil samples collected from different sites in Upper Egypt and in the coastal area of the Mediterranean and baited with human and animal hair and pigeon feathers was determined.Twenty-one species in addition to an unidentified species, which belong to sixteen genera were collected.Chrysosporium indicum, C. tropicum, C. keratinophilum andMicrosporum gypseum were the most frequent fungal species recovered from baited soils.The eight soil samples collected from the salt marshes of the coastal Mediterranean area were completely free from any keratinolytic fungi, whereas the sixty-two soil samples collected from cultivated soils contributed a species ranging from one to four species.     

Respiratory Chain of a Pathogenic Fungus, Microsporum gypseum: Effect of the Antifungal Agent Pyrrolnitrin

Pyrrolnitrin has been reported to inhibit Bacillus megaterium primarily by forming complexes with phospholipids and to block electron transfer of Saccharomyces cerevisiae between succinate or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and coenzyme Q. We found that pyrrolnitrin inhibited respiration of conidia of Microsporum gypseum. In mitochondrial preparations, pyrrolnitrin strongly inhibited respiration and the rotenone-sensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase. The rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase, the succinate-cytochrome c reductase, and the reduction of dichlorophenolindophenol by either NADH or succinate were inhibited to a lesser extent. However, the activity of cytochrome oxidase was not affected by pyrrolnitrin. The extent of reduction of flavoproteins by NADH and succinate, measured at 465 - 510 nm, was unaltered; however, the reduction of cytochrome b, measured at 560 - 575 nm, was partially inhibited by pyrrolnitrin. The level of totally reduced cytochrome b was restored with antimycin A. We, therefore, concluded that the primary site of action of this antifungal antibiotic is to block electron transfer between the flavoprotein of the NADH-dehydrogenase and cytochrome b segment of the respiratory chain of M. gypseum.     

A report on the predominant occurrence of a dermatophyte species in cultivated soil from Kuwait

From several soil samples screened for the occurrence of keratinolytic fungi, soils cultivated with ornamental plants were found to contain strains of the dermatophytic fungusMicrosporum gypseum. One soil sample was dominated by this species.     

Occurrence of keratinophilic fungi anddermatophytes on domestic birds in Nigeria

Feathers, nails and beaks of one hundred and twenty common birds in Nigeria, Chicken [50], Ducks [20], Turkeys [15] and Pigeons[35], were examined using the soil plate technique for their mycoflora.15 species of fungi were recovered and they belong to the genera Chrysosporium, Trichophyton, Microsporum, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillium and Trichoderma. Microsporum gypseum was the species most frequently isolated (35% of the samples). The most common genus was Chrysosporium and C. keratinophilum was the species with the highest frequency in the genus (28.3%). The species isolated included potential pathogens and mycotoxin producing fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.