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Introduction: The emergence of resistance in Trichophyton rubrum to azoles and terbinafine has become increasingly evident in recent years, necessitating the development of novel antifungal drugs and the exploration of new indications for existing agents.Methods: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the in vitro antifungal activity of 3 echinocandins (anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin) against 73 clinical isolates of T. rubrum collected from a teaching hospital in Shanghai, China, using EUCAST E.DEF 9.3.1 with minor modification. We also reviewed the susceptibility of T. rubrum to echinocandins globally by literature searching.Results: Our findings revealed that micafungin exhibited the lowest modal minimum effective concentration (MEC) value (0.08 mg/L, n = 28) and the lowest geometric mean (GM) MEC value (0.014 mg/L) among the 73 isolates of T. rubrum tested, followed by anidulafungin with a modal MEC value of 0.016 mg/L (n = 67) and a GM of 0.018 mg/L. Caspofungin displayed a higher modal MEC value of 0.5 mg/L (n = 35) and a GM of 0.308 mg/L. Despite variations in methodologies, similar results were obtained from the review of five relevant studies included in our analysis.Discussion: Echinocandins exhibited excellent in vitro activity against T. rubrum isolates, with micafungin and anidulafungin demonstrating greater potency than caspofungin. These findings suggest that echinocandins could be considered as potential treatment options for managing recalcitrant dermatophytoses resulting from the emergence of resistance. However, it is important to note that the clinical efficacy of these in vitro findings has yet to be established and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Microsporum canis complex consists of one zoophilic species, M. canis, and two anthropophilic species, M. audouinii and M. ferrugineum. These species are the most widespread zoonotic pathogens causing dermatophytosis in cats and humans worldwide. To clarify the evolutionary relationship between the three species and explore the potential host shift process, this study used phylogenetic analysis, population structure analysis, multispecies coalescent analyses, determination of MAT idiomorph distribution, sexual crosses, and macromorphology and physicochemical features to address the above questions. The complex of Microsporum canis, M. audouinii and M. ferrugineum comprises 12 genotypes. MAT1-1 was present only in M. canis, while the anthropophilic entities contained MAT1-2. The pseudocleistothecia were yielded by the mating behaviour of M. canis and M. audouinii. Growth rates and lipase, keratinolysis and urea hydrolytic capacities of zoophilic M. canis isolates were all higher than those of anthropophilic strains; DNase activity of M. ferrugineum exceeded that of M. canis. The optimum growth temperature was 28 °C, but 22 °C favoured the development of macroconidia. Molecular data, physicochemical properties and phenotypes suggest the adaptation of zoophilic M. canis to anthropophilic M. ferrugineum, with M. audouinii in an intermediate position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatophytosis (ringworm) caused by members of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex is rarely diagnosed in pigs but has been recognized as an increasingly common infection in humans. Further, resistance to antifungal drugs have been reported both in Asia and in Europe. This is the first scientific report of infection by the T. mentagrophytes complex in pigs in the Nordic countries. Case presentation: Skin lesions developed in grower pigs in an organic fattening pig farm with outdoor production and following laboratory analyses, dermatophytosis caused by members of the T. mentagrophytes complex was diagnosed. Infection was linked to poor hygiene, high humidity, and moderate outdoor temperatures, in combination with high pig density. A farm worker developed a skin lesion after close contact with affected pigs, which highlighted the zoonotic potential of porcine dermatophytosis. The dermatophytes may have originated from the herd supplying the growers where similar lesions occurred in pigs. Further, pigs from another organic fattening herd that received growers from the same supplier herd also developed dermatophytosis. The lesions healed without treatment as the housing conditions were improved. Isolation of affected pigs prevented spread to other pigs Conclusion: Members of the T. mentagrophytes complex can cause ringworm in pigs. The fungi probably persist in the haircoat and may cause overt disease when environmental conditions promote growth of mycelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichophyton indotineae causes resistant dermatophytosis to terbinafine. The global spread of terbinafine-resistant Trichophyton indotineae strains with mutations in the squalene epoxidase gene is a major issue. This emerging species is now more frequently isolated in Europe and we report here two cases of T. indotineae tinea corporis in Switzerland, one with in vitro resistance to terbinafine and a second with in vitro susceptibility but a clinical resistance. Mycology isolation from cultures and sequencing ITS gene were used to confirm T. indotineae infection. In vitro antifungal susceptibility was tested in a microplate with a colorimetric detection of fungal viability for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Facing these emerging resistances and since there are a limited number of antifungal agents available to treat dermatophytosis, the early detection of terbinafine resistance should be a prerequisite in the management of T. indotineae infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown the topical domestic use of hydraulic brake fluid and it has been reported by domestic users as efficacious against skin infections, especially dermatophytosis. Hydraulic brake fluid ointment is a combination of hydraulic brake fluid and a 30 g weight of simple ointment formulation. Its MIC on T. rubrum was determined using the micro-broth dilution method and a solid culture medium gave three different volumes of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ml which were used to prepare percentage formulations of 30 g simple ointment. A total of 28 male albino rats (pathogen-free, 6-8 weeks old) weighing between 180-210 g, randomly divided into 7 groups of 4 rats each, was used for this experiment. The first and second groups received 30 g simple ointment administered constituting the negative (without dermatophytosis) and positive (with dermatophytosis) control groups. The third, fourth and fifth groups received 0.7, 1.3 and 2.7% formulation of the test agent in the simple ointment, respectively; the sixth group was topically given 0.2% ketoconazole gel; the standard group while the seventh group received 0.25 ml (equivalent to a drop) of hydraulic brake fluid (neat) without a simple ointment base applied on the infected paws of the group. Application was from the 10th day of post-infection and lasted for 2 weeks. Clinical response and fungal scores were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in T. rubrum - induced albino rats treated with 1.3, 2.7, and 0.25 ml (neat) concentrations of the test agent compared to infected non-treated group administered simple ointment alone. The test agent (2.7%) produced a clinical response similar to standard drug (ketoconazole). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed the performance of the Seegene Novaplex™ Dermatophyte Assay for diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Methods: Sixty‐one clinical samples from skin, nail, hair and culture were selected based on RT‐PCR according to Wisselink et al. Of these samples, 26 samples were negative and 35 samples were positive with 39 dermatophytes strains. Emerging fungal strains harbouring terbinafine resistance (i.e. T. indotineae and T. mentagrophytes) were included. Results: The specificities of the Novaplex™ Dermatophyte Assay ranged between 94.3% and 97.9%. The sensitivities for the detection of T. rubrum complex, T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale species complex and C. albicans were 94.1% (95% CI: 71.3–99.9), 78.6% (95% CI: 49.2–95.3) and 100% (95% CI: 69.2–100), respectively, with Cohen's kappa of at least 72.9%. Conclusions: The Seegene Novaplex™ Dermatophyte Assay can be used for reliable screening of dermatophytes, including emerging strains in a routine laboratory setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to study and define "difficult dermatophytosis" encountered frequently; as well as examine demography, patient practices and clinico-etiological pattern among these patients. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to include 93(n) cases (after informed consent) from the patients attending the outpatient department in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology between August 2019 and August 2020. The inclusion criteria were: - age >12 years and fulfilling one or more criteria defining "difficult dermatophytosis" i.e. multiple/large lesions, multifocal, recurrent therapy, multiple relapses, clustering and chronicity. The clinico-demographic data was recorded in a pre-designed pro forma, a KOH examination for skin scraping and fungal culture was done for all cases. Data was analysed with SPSS version 20. Results Males outnumbered females (M: F =1.2:1) and majority (67.8%) of patients were <40 years (Mean=34.13±11.5; Median=31yrs.). Body Mass Index (BMI) was higher than 25 in 55.9% cases; mean BMI seen in the study was 25.17±4.60. Multiple/large lesion (90.3%) was most common inclusion criteria followed by multifocal lesions (84.9%). All patients had tinea cruris; tinea corporis was most commonly associated followed by tinea faciei lesions. A significant proportion (76.3%) of cases had =4 family members cohabiting with them (Mean=5.07±0.03); more than half (56.98%) had an affected family member (Mean=0.90±1.00). The most common co-morbid condition seen was atopy seen in 16 (17.2%) patients. Presentation for dermatology consult was delayed by >1 month in 81.7% cases; >6 months in 47.3% cases and >1 year in 26.9% cases. A strong statistical association was found of multiple relapses with „delay in dermatology consults" (p value=0.002). A significant association of delay was also seen with chronicity (p value=0.046) was also seen. Nearly three-fourth study participants (72%) reported prior use of topical corticosteroid; oral (11.8%) and parental (20.4%) use were also reported. Prior use of luliconazole (40.8%) was most commonly reported among topical drugs, whereas itraconazole was used by 46% patients previously. Irrational use of anti-fungals was seen in 75%; including inappropriate doses (18%), inappropriate duration (34%), poly-pharmacy (6%) and non-compliance (1%). A statistically significant association of irrational use was found with multiple/large lesions (p value=0.008). Conclusion We propose this definition for the unusual presentations of the disease, particularly in the Indian sub-continent. Better access to clinical dermatology services and rational use of systemic anti-fungals as a means to mitigate difficult dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichophyton tonsurans infection has been prevalent among individuals involved in contact sports in Japan since about 2000 . The present review focuses on its diagnosis, molecular epidemiology, drug susceptibility, and infection control. The most commonly observed lesions of T. tonsurans, an anthropogenic dermatophyte, are tinea corporis and tinea capitis. However, the presence of asymptomatic carriers must be considered for infection control. Genotypic epidemiology using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene showed a lack of diversity of genotypes. and only the NTS I genotype is detected at present. In regard to drug susceptibility, terbinafine drug resistance has not been found to be associated with the RFLP genotypes, and it is assumed that there are no terbinafine-resistant strains in Japan. T. tonsurans coexisted with other fungi and bacteria in the scalp of asymptomatic carriers without affecting species diversity. T. tonsurans is an anthropogenic dermatophyte and maybe difficult for the human immune system to eliminate. During an infection outbreak. screening of infection and treatment including asymptomatic carriers are essential to eradicate the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient was a 13-year-old boy who was a member of the judo club at his junior high school. Approximately 1 week prior to his presentation, he developed multiple erythematous pilaris papules on his occipital area and was treated by a local doctor. The erythematous lesions expanded to 10 x 10 cm, showing granulation with drainage and strong spontaneous pain. At this point, he visited our hospital. He was diagnosed with kerion celsi due to Trichophyton tonsurans by fungal examination. The patient was treated with terbinafine (125 mg/day) for 6 weeks, and a brush test at 6 weeks was negative. All 18 members of the judo club, including this patient, were investigated; brush tests were positive in 4 cases, and one was positive for tinea corporis alone. The patient's family members parents were both negative. When an athlete is diagnosed with ringworm, T. tonsurans infection should be considered, and testing and treatment of family members and fellow athletes should be carried out to prevent the spread of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis, which is usually linked to mutations in the TGM1 gene, includes a more frequent lamellar form and a more severe erythrodermic form. At birth, the patient has thickened, shiny skin resembling a collodion membrane; this then detaches and turns into ichthyotic hyperkeratosis. Ichthyotic skin predisposes to fungal infections, sometimes extensive and persistent. A patient suffering from lamellar ichthyosis who underwent extensive and persistent for 13 years tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton rubrum was presented and a review of the cases present in the literature was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergence and increase of terbinafine‐resistant dermatophytosis led to the identification of Trichophyton mentagrophytes internal transcriber space (ITS) genotype VIII in 2017, later renamed as Trichophyton indotineae and classified as a separate species in 2020. With its suspected origin in South Asia, this novel strain has emerged in Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, and Switzerland, with its spread attributed primarily to travel and migration. Diagnosis using routine mycology laboratory techniques is unable to distinguish T. indotineae from T. mentagrophytes and T. interdigitale; specific identification requires genomic sequencing to identify unique, specific markers. One speculated reason for this recent outbreak is the unrestricted use of topical steroid creams and antifungal agents. Patients with extensive tinea corporis and cruris due to T. indotineae present with inflammatory red plaques in multiple body sites. The majority of these infections prove to be resistant to conventional antifungals, including allylamines and azoles (itraconazole and fluconazole), thus emphasizing the need for antifungal susceptibility testing before treatment initiation and for reassessing in nonresponsive patients. Molecular studies have identified several point mutations in the ERG1 (terbinafine resistance) and ERG11 (azole resistance) genes, which need to be analyzed further. Use of relatively new agents, such as voriconazole and luliconazole, as well as device modalities and combination therapy, could be investigated for recalcitrant T. indotineae infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dermatological manifestations are common manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, seen in 80% to 95% of HIV-infected patients. Dermatological manifestations are considered clinical indicators to predict and assess the underlying immune status. Aim: This study aims to document the dermatological manifestations in relation to CD4 count in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study in 250 PLHIV fulfilling inclusion–exclusion criteria was conducted. Variables including sociodemographic profile, recent CD4 count (data from antiretroviral therapy center), and dermatological manifestation (physical examination) were collected. Clinical diagnosis was established, and patients were grouped according to the World Health Organization immunological staging Results: Majority of PLHIV (39.6%) were in the age group of 31–40 years. Males were affected more than females (1.6:1). A total of 364 dermatoses were observed; dermatological manifestation per patient ranged from 1 to 4. 32.80%. PLHIV had CD4 count >500 cells/mm3, 15.60% had CD4 count between 200–349 cells/mm3. Majority of dermatosis had infectious etiology (77.6%), out of which dermatophytosis (27.2%) was the most common infectious condition, whereas pruritic papular eruption was the most common (11.6%) noninfectious condition. A statistically significant association of CD4 count was found with dermatophytosis (P ≤ 0.001) and candidiasis (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The study showed a significant association between the number of dermatological manifestation and CD4 count as majority of study participants (67.2%) had CD4 <500 cells/mm3 at the time of episode of dermatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy is characterized by myriad of temporary alteration in endocrine, metabolic, and immunological factors. These alterations result in multiple mucocutaneous manifestations. The various skin changes may be either physiological or changes in preexisting skin diseases, or development of new pregnancy-specific dermatoses. Pregnancy-specific skin dermatoses include atopic eruption of pregnancy (AEP), polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, pemphigoid gestationalis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Aims: The aim of the study was to study the frequency and pattern of mucocutaneous manifestations in pregnant women attending the tertiary care hospital. Settings and Design: A descriptive observational study. Subjects and Methods: A total number of 170 pregnant women attending antenatal outpatient department from October 2017 to March 2019 were included in the study. Detailed history, clinical examination, and relevant investigations were done. Patients not willing to give informed consent were only excluded from the study. Results: In this study, 58.23% (99) were primigravida and 41.77% (71) were multigravida. Most of the cases presented during third trimester (73%). In this study among the 170 pregnant women, the incidence of skin changes observed was 790 physiological entities, nonspecific dermatoses of pregnancy were 95, and 42 cases of specific dermatoses of pregnancy. The most common physiological changes noted were pigmentary changes 46.96% out of all physiological changes. All pregnant women showed pigmentary changes. Most common pigmentary change was linea nigra and melasma. Other changes were striae distensae 14.55%, vascular changes 10.37%, mucous membrane changes 5.19%, pruritus 17%, hair changes 1.51%, and nail changes 1.13%. Tinea corporis was most common infection 48.6% out of all infections, followed by candidal vaginitis 10.8%. Acne vulgaris was most common inflammatory disorder seen in 12.35%, followed by urticaria and psoriasis, seen in 7.05% and 1.76%, respectively. Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy and AEP was seen in 14.70% and 10%, respectively. No cases of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and pemphigoid gestationalis were noted. Conclusions: This study brings into focus prevalence of various mucocutaneous changes during pregnancy. Thorough knowledge about pregnancy dermatoses is essential to arrive at a specific diagnosis which is a mandate for counseling and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinea corporis is one of the most commonly fungal known illness resembling several different annular lesions. The usual presentation of tinea corporis is a well-defined, precisely outlined, circular or oval, scaly plaque or patch with slightly erythematous, with an elevated leading edge. Commonly, pruritus is mild. Although the prognosis is frequently clinical, it may be challenging if you've taken corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors in the past. Apractical and noninvasive diagnostic method is dermoscopy. If required, microscopic analysis of KOH mounted wet preparations of scraped skin from the lesion's active border can be used to confirm the diagnosis. The most reliable method for diagnosing dermatophytosis is fungus culture, particularly when other test findings are unclear, the illness is severe, extensive, or resistant to therapy. Medical professionals need to get knowledgeable about this illness and how to treat it. The purpose of this paper was to present a narrative, up-to-date overview of tinea corporis examination, diagnosis, and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline dermatophytosis is a commonly encountered fungal skin disease in cats. Skin scrapings from cats with varying degrees of clinical signs were collected and subjected to microscopic and cultural examination. The clinical samples were stained with three different stains, lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB), Chicago sky blue (CSB) and Calcofluor white (CW) and were subjected to microscopic examination for fungal spores. The results of this microscopic examination were analysed and compared with growth of dermatophytes in Dermatophyte test medium (DTM). Based on cultural isolation, dermatophytosis was confirmed in 36 out of 82 cases tested. Comparison of staining techniques revealed that CW staining had better sensitivity (97.22 per cent), specificity (65.22 per cent) and overall agreement with cultures in DTM. Occurrence was found to be higher in kittens less than six months of age and long-haired breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The people of Indonesia often suffer from three diseases: tinea versicolor, ringworm, and scabies. Most Indonesians cannot distinguish the type of skin disease they suffer from because some have the same characteristics and patterns. Therefore, this study built an M-Health application to predict skin diseases. The prediction process uses a deep learning model deployed in the smartphone. The challenge of this study is the limited number of datasets because the data used is personal and requires permission from the patient or hospital. Therefore, transfer learning is used to overcome these data limitations. The transfer learning process in this study uses two pre-trained models, MobileNetV2 and NASNetMobile. To obtain a model with high accuracy, performed modifications to the architecture MobileNetV2 and NASNetMobile. The test results showed that MobileNetV2 performs best using a learning rate of 0.0005 and activation function ELU. While NASNetMobile produces the best performance using a learning rate of 0.0001 and activation function ReLU6. The test results using data from gallery smartphones show that NASNetMobile has an accuracy of 91.6%, while MobileNetV2 has an accuracy of 88.9%. They were testing using the camera in real-time, which resulted in accuracy that was not as accurate as if using data from the gallery. Accuracy using a smartphone camera shows an accuracy of 75% when using NASNetMobile and 72.2% when using MobileNetV2. Accuracy will increase when using a flashlight while capturing objects. Based on the testing results using a flashlight, the NASNetMobile accuracy value increased to 80.5%, while MobileNetV2 accuracy changed to 77.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decrease in the effectiveness of current treatments for hair dermatosis caused by the resistance to antifungals affects patients, causing many cases of recurrence. Thus, the search for low-cost materials with potential antifungal and antibiofilm effects that are easy to prepare, water-soluble, polydisperse and chemically green is significant. Thus, the purpose of this research is to develop mini-emulsions based on protic ionic liquids and oleic acid that present antibiofilm activity against strains related to animal hair dermatophytosis. The effects of three different protic ionic liquids (PILs), 2-hydroxy diethylammonium lactate (2-HDEALa), 2-hydroxy diethylammonium salicylate (2-HDEASa) and 2-hydroxy diethylammonium maleate (2-HDEAMa), on the size, stability and antibiofilm activity of the mini-emulsions were investigated. The effects of PILs and oleic acid concentrations on the size, polydispersity and electrostatic stability of mini-emulsions were evaluated using dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic light scattering. The raw materials and mini-emulsions were also characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and fluorescence experiments including confocal microscopy. In addition, the potential of the synthesized nanomaterials to eradicate Microsporum canis biofilms on animal hair was evaluated. As a result, it was observed that mini-emulsions with smaller sizes, a lower polydispersity index and high electrostatic stability were produced with 10 mM oleic acid and 20 mM 2-HDEALa, 50 mM 2-HDEAMa and 50 mM 2-HDEAMa using a simple and low-cost synthetic method. Furthermore, the confocal microphotographs demonstrated that the mini-emulsions had a spherical shape and the fluorescence and NMR analyses showed that the PILs 2-HDEALa and 2-HDEAMa efficiently covered the oleic acid in the mini-emulsions. Regarding the treatment of dermatophytosis in animal hair using mini-emulsions, it was found that these nanomaterials eliminated 100% of the M. canis biofilm. In conclusion, chemically green molecules such as the PILs 2-HDEALa, 2-HDEAMa and 2-HDEASa were able to form mini-emulsions easily and inexpensively with oleic acid. The PILs presented a synergetic effect with oleic acid, providing the complete eradication of the M. canis biofilm. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that these nanomaterials could be a potential water-soluble formulation to be used as a lotion in the treatment of animal hair dermatoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatophyte caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a global disease with a growing prevalence that is difficult to cure. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is an edible and medicinal plant. Ancient books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern pharmacological studies have shown that it has potential anti-fungi activity. This is the first study to explore the inhibitory effects of compounds from P. frutescens on Trichophyton mentagrophytes and its mechanism of action coupled with the antifungal activity in vitro from network pharmacology, transcriptomics and proteomics. Methods: Five most potential inhibitory compounds against fungi in P. frutescens was screened with network pharmacology. The antifungal activity of the candidates was detected by a broth microdilution method. Through in vitro antifungal assays screening the compound with efficacy, transcriptomics and proteomics were performed to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of the effective compound against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Furthermore, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to verify the expression of genes. Results: The top five potential antifungal compounds in P. frutescens screened by network pharmacology are: progesterone, luteolin, apigenin, ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid. In vitro antifungal assays showed that rosmarinic acid had a favorable inhibitory effect on fungi. The transcriptomic findings exhibited that the differentially expressed genes of fungus after rosmarinic acid intervention were mainly enriched in the carbon metabolism pathway, while the proteomic findings suggested that rosmarinic acid could inhibit the average growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes by interfering with the expression of enolase in the glycolysis pathway. Comparison of real-time PCR and transcriptomics results showed that the trends of gene expression in glycolytic, carbon metabolism and glutathione metabolic pathways were identical. The binding modes and interactions between rosmarinic acid and enolase were preliminary explored by molecular docking analysis. Conclusion: The key findings of the present study manifested that rosmarinic acid, a medicinal compound extracted from P. frutescens, had pharmacological activity in inhibiting the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes by affecting its enolase expression to reduce metabolism. Rosmarinic acid is expected to be an efficacious product for prevention and treatment of dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriandrum sativum L. is a most important essential oil-bearing spice (belonging to family Apiaceae) as well as medicinal plant extensively refined all over the world. The C. sativum seed essential oil was extracted through the hydrodistillation method using Clevenger's apparatus. GC and GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 35 compounds among 99.9% of essential oil. Linalool was the major component (81.83%) followed by geranyl acetate (5.59%), α-pinene (3.55%), estragole (1.53%), trans-anethole (1.18%) and fenchone (1.17%). MIC and MFC of essential oil and its fractions were determined through semi solid agar antifungal susceptibility method. MIC ranged from 0.2±0.000 μl/ml to 0.4±0.577 μL/mL while MFC was found to be 0.23±0.033 μL/mL to 0.567±0.047 μL/mL. Candida albicans (MTCC 3018) was found to be the most resistant strain for present investigation. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MTCC 7687) was found to be most susceptible fungus while Microsporum gypseum was found to be most resistant fungus. Essential oil was further subjected to glass oven equipment for the separation of fractions at different boiling temperature. Five fractions were separated and labeled as CI-CV. Due to very less amount, CV fraction could not be used for the screening of antidermatophytic activity. Among all these fractions, CII was found to be most effective fraction against all selected fungi. Toxicological properties of essential oil were determined tropically on swiss albino mice. Low concentration of upto 3% did not show any irritation on mice's skin. At 5% concentration, 1 mice showed mild erythema, which was disappeared on 48 hours observation. While on 7% concentration, all five mice exhibited well defined erythema up to 24 hours of the observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the increase in frequency of tinea incognito along with its current presentation and etiologic features. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences. Period: July to November 2023. Material & Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study done on subjects who were diagnosed with dermatophystosis from outpatient clinic of dermatology at Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. The subjects were inquired about predisposing factors, drugs and family history, along with examination of the site of infection. The Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for the analysis of data. Results: In this study, tinea corporis was determined to be the most frequent site of dermatophytoses (77.2%) with most of the participants being females (66.1%). Topical steroids were most commonly utilized (71.7%), whereas 44.9% of the population used steroid of moderate potency. Significant association of steroid use was found with itching (p = 0.019), pustules (p = 0.019) and erythroderma (p = 0.012) when compared with secondary signs and symptoms of dermatophytosis. Conclusion: This study concluded that wider prevalence, easy access and differentiable modes of application of steroids without proper consultation have worsened the clinical picture of dermatophytosis and increased the likelihood of recurrent infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal folliculitis (including tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma) has a wide range of clinical presentations, and biopsy may be obtained to distinguish this from other conditions with similar presentations. The study aims to evaluate the proportion of hairs infected in biopsies of fungal folliculitis. Copath records were searched for diagnoses of fungal folliculitis, tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020. Confirmed cases were pulled and reviewed by a dermatopathologist to count the total number of hairs on the sample and the total infected. Of 72 included cases, the median number of hair follicles per biopsy was 3 (IQR 1,4), and the median proportion of hairs infected was 54.2% (IQR 33.3%, 100.0%). Nineteen (26.4%) had only one hair included in the biopsy which was also an infected hair (100% of hairs were infected). The percentage of total hair follicles infected differed significantly depending upon location (p = 0.0443), with a smaller percentage of infected hairs in biopsies of tinea capitis. Clinicians should be cautious when using biopsy for diagnosis of fungal folliculitis, specifically, when there are few hairs in the specimen. Failure to capture infected hairs leads to false negative diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dear Editor, Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC), a gyrate erythema, is seen most commonly in adults who are young or middle aged, with a female preponderance.[1] It often starts as an urticarial papule that enlarges to form annular, arcuate or polycyclic lesions with central flattening and clearing.[1] A trailing scale behind the advancing edge when present is considered classic for superficial EAC (Figure 1a).[1],[2] Lesions commonly occur on the buttocks, thighs and upper arms but can occur anywhere.[1] Itching when present, is mild. Histopathological examination shows spongiosis, parakeratosis and mild dermal superficial perivascular infiltrate, although some show deep or mixed infiltrate. [Extracted from the article]

Skin conditions are a common problem addressed by medical providers. Up to 25% of individuals in the United States will seek attention for these conditions each year. The same problem occurs in the athletic training room, where athletes with infectious skin conditions can be seen. Most conditions are simple and can be treated without concern for spread to susceptible athletes. However, others can be quite serious and spread rapidly through a team and opponents during competition. Knowledge of the different types of skin infections is necessary to help treat these athletes and prevent spread to others. With proper diagnosis and treatment, certified athletic trainers can keep the athlete off the field of play for a minimum period and prevent transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytes are a group of related fungi in the genera Tricophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Infection with any member of these genera results in dermatophytosis, an economically important skin disease of man and animals. The aim of this work was to determine the occurrence of dermatophytosis among sheep and goats in Zaria. Ninety-four goats and 63 sheep skin scrapings were aseptically collected. Each specimen was divided into two parts for direct microscopy and culture respectively. The portion for direct microscopic examination was cleared in 10% potassium hydroxide and examined microscopically. The presence of hyaline septate hyphae in skin scales or spores inside or outside the hair shafts was presumptively considered positive for dermatophytes. The part for culture was inoculated onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar incorporated with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol and incubated for 2 to 3 weeks. The isolates were stained in lactophenol cotton blue and identified microscopically based on the size, shape and attachment of their macoconidia and microconidia. Twenty-four (25.5%) and 15 (23.8%) of goat and sheep samples respectively were positive for dermatophytes by direct microscopy. Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum were the two dermatophytes isolated from both sheep and goats. The isolation rates were 22.3% (21/94) and 20.0% (13/63) in goats and sheep respectively. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was more frequently (66.7%) isolated than T. verrucosum (33.3%) from goats. Similarly, T. mentagrophytes was more frequently (69.2%) isolated than T. verrucosum (30.8%) from sheep. Dermatophytosis is a health problem among sheep and goats in Zaria with T. mentagrophytes being more commonly isolated than T. verrucosum in both species of animals. In view of the high zoonotic potential of the disease, we recommend the use of protective equipment when handling infected animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diyala Journal of Medicine is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dermatophytoses are caused by fungi in the genera Microsprum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Africans use extracts of medicinal plants to treat dermatophytosis. This study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of crude leaf extract of Cassia alata on fungal isolates from dermatophytosis lesions. Subjects with suspected lesions of dermatophytosis were recruited for the study. Skin scrapings were obtained from lesions for microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Fresh Cassia alata leaves were plucked and authenticated by a Botanist. Aqueous and alcohol extraction was done using the Soxhlet extractor. Isolates were subjected to in vitro leave extracts antifungal testing using disc diffusion methods. A total of 50 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 28(56.0%) males and 22(44.0%) females with a male to female ratio of 2.5: 1. The prevalence of dermatophytes infection in the study was 14(28.0%). Trichophyton rubrum was the most encountered isolates (42.8%). Males 10(71.4%) were more infected than females 4(28.5%). The susceptibility rates of dermatophytes to anfungals range between 0 -100% with 30(78.6%) susceptibility to Griseofulvin. The aqueous extract was more effective with susceptibility rates 33.3% - 83.3% than ethanolic extract 16.7% - 50.0%. The dermatophytes were more susceptible to the 50µg/mL aqueous extract with rates between 50% - 83.3% while the range for the 50µg/mL ethanolic extract was 25.0% - 50.0%. Trichophyton veruccosum and E. floccosum were resistant to extracts. Cassia alata leaf extracts had antifungal activities against dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antifungal effects of 405-nm and 635-nm dual-band diode lasers using an in vivo guinea pig model of dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: A guinea pig model was developed by the repetitive application of fungal spore preparations to the back skin of guinea pigs. Dual-diode laser treatment was delivered to the guinea pig skin at a power of 24 mW at a wavelength of 405 nm and 18 mW at 635 nm for 12 min. The treatments were administered three times weekly for 2 weeks, and a mycological study was performed. Results: Mycological studies using scraped samples obtained from treatment groups A (N = 8) and B (N = 8) after dual-diode laser treatment revealed that seven of eight (87.5%) samples in each group had negative results for direct potassium hydroxide microscopy and fungal culture studies. Skin specimens from each infected laser-untreated guinea pig exhibited spongiotic psoriasiform epidermis with parakeratosis. Meanwhile, skin specimens from infected laser-treated guinea pigs in groups A and B demonstrated thinner epidermal thickness than those from infected untreated controls but thicker than those from uninfected treated controls without noticeable inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis. Conclusion: The guinea pig dermatophytosis model can be used to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of various treatment modalities, including dual-diode lasers, for superficial fungal skin infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal discusses a case of refractory annular erythema in a 58-year-old woman. Despite initial diagnoses of tinea corporis and contact dermatitis, the patient was ultimately diagnosed with Bowen disease, a type of in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the epidermis. The article emphasizes the importance of considering Bowen disease when persistent annular lesions do not improve with treatment, and outlines various treatment options available. The patient in this case had successful surgical excision with no recurrence at 1 year follow-up. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a rare case of a 16-year-old male student who presented with white paint dot-like lesions on his scrotum, which were later diagnosed as an infection caused by Microsporum gypseum. M. gypseum is a geophilic fungus that primarily affects the scalp and body, but scrotal infections are exceptionally rare. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole and topical bifonazole cream, resulting in complete resolution of the lesions. The article emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and mycological examinations for accurate treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Skin is the outer cover of our body, which protects vital organs from harm. This important body part is often affected by a series of infections caused by fungus, bacteria, viruses, allergies, and dust. Millions of people suffer from skin diseases. It is one of the common causes of infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Skin disease can also be the cause of stigma and discrimination. Early and accurate diagnosis of skin disease can be vital for effective treatment. Laser and photonics-based technologies are used for the diagnosis of skin disease. These technologies are expensive and not affordable, especially for resource-limited countries like Ethiopia. Hence, image-based methods can be effective in reducing cost and time. There are previous studies on image-based diagnosis for skin disease. However, there are few scientific studies on tinea pedis and tinea corporis. In this study, the convolution neural network (CNN) has been used to classify fungal skin disease. The classification was carried out on the four most common fungal skin diseases: tinea pedis, tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and tinea unguium. The dataset consisted of a total of 407 fungal skin lesions collected from Dr. Gerbi Medium Clinic, Jimma, Ethiopia. Normalization of image size, conversion of RGB to grayscale, and balancing the intensity of the image have been carried out. Images were normalized to three sizes: 120 × 120, 150 × 150, and 224 × 224. Then, augmentation was applied. The developed model classified the four common fungal skin diseases with 93.3% accuracy. Comparisons were made with similar CNN architectures: MobileNetV2 and ResNet 50, and the proposed model was superior to both. This study may be an important addition to the very limited work on the detection of fungal skin disease. It can be used to build an automated image-based screening system for dermatology at an initial stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytosis represents one of the common fungal diseases that attack the skin, hair and nail of human beings worldwide. It causes chronic morbidity in children and the condition is more common, in developing countries. The study aimed to determine dermatophytosis and its associated factors among children in Hawassa Sidama, Ethiopia April 2021–October 2021. A cross-sectional study was conducted on children suspected of cutaneous fungal infections. Data were surveyed based on a semi-structured questionnaire. Standard laboratory methods were used to identify the dermatophytes. The data entry and analysis were conducted with SPSS version 26. The Chi-square test was used to check the predictor and a p-value < 0.05 was taken as a significant value. A total of 83 study subjects included in the study in which all 83 (100%) patients were positive for fungal elements (hyphae/and spores) in microscopy, of this 81 (97.6%) yielded growth on culture. Hair scalps 75 (90.4%) were the dominant among the case. Trichophyton 52 (62.6%) was the dominant aetiology followed by Microsporum 22 (26.6%). Intervention measures to tackle dermatophytosis should emphasis on tinea capitis among 6–10 years old children with history of recent migration by raising awareness of communities through health extension programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections affecting the superficial keratinized layer of the skin, nails, and hair are referred to as dermatophytosis and dermatomycoses, which constitute the most common type of fungal infection that affects people. This clinical ailment has a prevalence of between 30 and 60% and is more common in India's hot, muggy, tropical climate. Examining the prevalence of superficial mycoses (SM), their clinical symptoms, and the fungal species that were identified as the disease-causing agents were the main objectives of the current study. This study comprised 250 clinically confirmed patients with SM who visited our dermatology department over the course of a year. Skin scrapings, nail clippings, and hair samples were gathered, mounted, and cultured using KOH. Macroscopic examination of culture, tease mount, and phenotypic tests were used to identify the species. The age group of 11–20 years (29%) had the highest prevalence of SM out of the 250 clinically verified cases of the condition that were included in our study, followed by 21–30 years (20%) and 31–40 years (18%). Candida albicans, dermatophytes, and non-dermatophytic moulds were the three most prevalent fungal isolates. The most typical dermatophyte isolate was T. rubrum, which was primarily found in Tinea corporis (TCo), Tinea cruris (TCr), and Tinea faciei (TFa). T. mentagrophytes was the second most frequent isolate. According to our investigation, it was determined that non-dermatophytic moulds constitute a significant contributor to the development of SM in addition to dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onychomycosis (OM) is the commonest cause of dystrophic nails, responsible for upto 50% of cases. Apart from significantly damaging the nails, quality of life, and self-image of the sufferer, it also acts as a reservoir of fungal infections carrying important implications for emerging recalcitrant dermatophytoses. Treatment of OM is based on guidelines released almost a decade back, in addition to published literature and personal preferences. Hence, an expert group of nail society of India (NSI) worked towards drafting these guidelines aimed at compiling recommendations for pharmacologic treatment of OM, based on scientific evidence, along with practical experience. The group did an extensive analysis of available English language literature on OM published during the period 2014-2022. The evidence compiled was graded and discussed to derive consensus recommendations for practice. Special focus was placed on combination therapies and adjunct therapies, including experience of members, to improve treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In spite of the availability of multiple consensus statements on dermatophytosis management, different treatment approaches have been experienced in India and require more scrutiny to further update guidelines and improve patient care. Aim: To determine the different approaches in dermatophytosis diagnosis and management among dermatologists in India. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire was created and validated by five panelists with experience of >15 years in dermatophytosis and then circulated to about 2,000 dermatologists in India in September 2021 for a real-world management scenario. Results: Out of 2,000 dermatologists, 459 responded. About half of the dermatologists (51%) routinely conduct potassium hydroxide mount (KOH) at the initiation of therapy. Similarly, about 53% of dermatologists initiate the management of dermatophytosis with combination therapy in all types of dermatophytosis for 4-6 weeks depending upon severity. Different types of combinations are being practiced, such as either two systemic and one topical, two topicals and one systemic, but the combination of one systemic and one topical (69%) is the most commonly practiced. Itraconazole (100 mg twice a day) and luliconazole are the most commonly prescribed antifungal medications. In case of non-response to routine dose of systemic anti-fungals, about 72% of dermatologists up dose them. Most of them continue these drugs for additional 1-2 weeks after clearance of the disease. Additionally, keratolytics and moisturizers are commonly prescribed. Additionally, 62% advise liver function tests (LFTs) at the initiation of therapy, whereas 72% advise monitoring adverse effects due to systemic antifungal drugs during treatment. Conclusion: Combination therapy stood out as the need of the hour in the current menace of dermatophytosis with timely monitoring of laboratory tests for adverse events due to the use of systemic antifungals for a longer duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dermatophytes are the most common skin infections mainly treated with itraconazole. However, the persistent nature of the disease has emerged as the major concern over the last few years. Oral isotretinoin, a keratolytic drug is also used along with itraconazole in the management of dermatophytosis. Aim: To evaluate safety and efficacy of oral itraconazole versus combination with oral isotretinoin in the treatment and recurrence prevention of superficial dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: The randomised clinical trial was conducted in the Dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh over 12 months period. A total of 180 adult patients clinically diagnosed with superficial dermatophytosis were recruited and randomised into group A and B. Patients in group A were treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg daily and patients allotted in group B received oral itraconazole 200 mg plus oral isotretinoin 20 mg daily. Both groups were evaluated after every 15 days for two months and followed-up for next two months to assess relapse rate. Treatment efficacy was assessed by potassium hydroxide (KOH) test done on skin scrapings, erythema score, scaling score and 5D pruritus scale and safety by evaluating for adverse reactions noticed at each sequential visit during study period of two months. The data were analysed by using Chi-square tests and unpaired t-tests and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0. A p-value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Out of 180 patients enrolled, 162 patients (83 in group A and 79 in group B) completed the trial. The patients in group B had early and complete mycological cure, seen in 77/79 (97.5%) patients as compared with 74/83 (89.2%) group A patients (p=0.06) with significantly low recurrence rate (p=0.01). At each follow-up, both groups were assessed on the clinical signs of erythema and scaling rated on 4 points scale (0, 1, 2, 3) and clinical symptom of itching on 5D pruritus scale ranging from 5-25. There was statistically significant difference in the treatment response between studied groups (p<0.05). Hepatic derangements were the most common adverse effects observed in both groups. Conclusion: Oral isotretinoin can be an effective add on therapy in superficial dermatophytosis management as it induces early remission with significantly less recurrence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was aimed to determined the main causes of ringworm in cows and antifungal and synergistic effects of ZnO nanoparticles. For this purpose 50 skin scrapes were collected from cows infected with ringworm, culture media, staining and genetic methods used for diagnosis. MIC and MFC for antifungal and ZnO were determined. The result showed that Trichophyton spp was isolated in rate of 76%. The isolation rate of T.verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum were 68.4%, 21.0% and 10.5% respectively. MIC of Nystatin, fluocytosin, ZnO, Nystatin+ ZnO and Fluocytosin + ZnO were 200,150, 200, 150 and 100 μg/ml respectively. in conclusion, that T.verrucosum is main caused of Ringworm and ZnO has antifungal and synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Onychomycosis was an ignored disease in children, and the prevalence was still unknown worldwide. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and treatment regimens of onychomycosis in children younger than 18 years old. Methods: We systemically reviewed all publications by searching the key terms to reveal the onychomycosis in children from 1990 to 2022. Results: A total of 44 articles including 2,382 children with onychomycosis were enrolled in this study. The male to female ratio was 1.29:1. The youngest child was 35 days old and the average age was 9.8 years old. The duration of disease usually ranged from 7 days to 4 years. Onychomycosis in children was more prevalent in toenails compared to fingernails (77.6% vs. 18.4%), and 4% patients had both. A total of 527 children (22.12%) had concomitant tinea pedis infection, and in 267 patients (11.21%), their family members had onychomycosis or tinea pedis. The most common clinical type of onychomycosis was DLSO (67.74%) and the predominant isolates were T. rubrum (66.13%), followed by C. albicans (9.08%) and T. mentagrophytes complex (5.34%). There were 419 children (74.03%) receiving systematic treatment only, 74 patients (13.07%) receiving topical treatment only, and 73 patients (12.90%) receiving both systematic and topical treatment. Twelve patients (2.12%) had mild drug‐related side effects. During the follow‐up, 71.25% children were cured, 17.50% symptoms improved and 4.17% failed. Conclusions: Onychomycosis was underestimated in children and the diagnosis of onychomycosis should be properly considered in children with nail disorders. For mild patients, topical treatment can be a good choice, and oral antifungal drugs could be added to severe individuals under monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinea capitis and tinea corporis are highly prevalent fungal skin infections, which globally are mainly caused by Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum, respectively. While in the United States and Great Britain Trichophyton tonsurans is widely prevalent as a causative pathogen, it so far only plays a minor role in Germany. Objectives: Since the frequency of pathogenic species varies regionally and temporally, this study assesses the proportion of Trichophyton tonsurans infections in the dermatology department of a large university hospital in Germany from 2019 to 2022 and thoroughly characterises the affected patient population. Patients/Methods: This retrospective study at the Technical University of Munich analyses mycological culture results regarding the identified dermatophyte and infection site. Detailed patient and disease‐related information on Trichophyton tonsurans positive patients was obtained. Results: In 2022, 23 patients of 111 dermatophyte culture‐positive patients tested positive for Trichophyton tonsurans. This accounted for 20.7% and represented a tenfold increase from 2.1% in 2019. Contact sports were only practiced by 21.7% of patients, and no common hotspot or other linkage could be identified between the cases. Additionally, 47.8% of the patients received a systemic treatment, with 30.4% visiting the clinic more than three times. In 2022, 21.7% were diagnosed with a simultaneous infection of the capillitium and body, whereas this was only observed in 7.1% of cases in 2019 to 2021. Conclusions: This study suggests an increase of Trichophyton tonsurans infections via several routes of transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) as the recognition of pathogenic fungal structures induce the secretion of cytokines by immune systems. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 are the main PRRs that recognize fungal components. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the presence of dermatophyte species in symptomatic cats in a region of Iran and to investigate the expression of TLR‐2 and 4 in cat lesions with dermatophytosis. Methods: A total of 105 cats suspected of dermatophytosis with skin lesions were examined. Samples were analysed by direct microscopy using potassium hydroxide (20%) and culture on Mycobiotic agar. Dermatophytes strains were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and then sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer rDNA region. Also, for pathology and real‐time PCR studies, skin biopsies were taken by sterile single‐use biopsy punch from active ringworm lesions. Results: Dermatophytes were found in 41 felines. Based on the sequencing of all strains, Microsporum canis (80.48%, p < 0.05), Microsporum gypseum (17.07%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.43%) were the dermatophytes isolated from cultures. Cats under 1 year (78.04%) revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of infection (p < 0.05). Gene expression by real‐time PCR revealed the increased TLR‐2 and 4 mRNA levels in skin biopsies of cats with dermatophytosis. Conclusions: M. canis is the most prevalent dermatophyte species isolated from feline dermatophytosis lesions. Increased expression of TLR‐2 and TLR‐4 mRNAs in cat skin biopsies suggests that these receptors are involved in the immune response by recognizing dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of dermatophytes to live in communities and resist antifungal drugs may explain treatment recurrence, especially in onychomycosis. Therefore, new molecules with reduced toxicity that target dermatophyte biofilms should be investigated. This study evaluated nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (nonyl) susceptibility and mechanism of action on planktonic cells and biofilms of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. Metabolic activities, ergosterol, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified, and the expression of genes encoding ergosterol was determined by real-time PCR. The effects on the biofilm structure were visualized using confocal electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes biofilms were susceptible to nonyl and resistant to fluconazole, griseofulvin (all strains), and terbinafine (two strains). The SEM results revealed that nonyl groups seriously damaged the biofilms, whereas synthetic drugs caused little or no damage and, in some cases, stimulated the development of resistance structures. Confocal microscopy showed a drastic reduction in biofilm thickness, and transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the compound promoted the derangement and formation of pores in the plasma membrane. Biochemical and molecular assays indicated that fungal membrane ergosterol is a nonyl target. These findings show that nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate is a promising antifungal compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recalcitrant dermatophyte infections are being reported from various parts of the world due to varied causes including strain variation, steroid misuse, SQLE mutations, and variable quality of itraconazole pellet formulations. The oral drug preferred in endemic areas is itraconazole, to which MIC levels remain low, and clinical failures to itraconazole reported defy a sound scientific explanation. Objectives: The objective of the study was to conduct a proteomic and genomic analysis on isolates from therapeutically recalcitrant case with isolation of gene mutations and enzymatic abnormalities to explain azole failures. Methods: Trichophyton mentagrophyte interdigitale complex strains were isolated from seven clinically non‐responding tinea corporis/cruris patients, who had failed a sequential course of 6 weeks of terbinafine 250 mg QD and itraconazole 100 mg BID. After AFST 1 strain, KA01 with high MIC to most drugs was characterized using whole genome sequencing, comparative proteomic profiling, and total sterol quantification. Results: Sterol quantification showed that the standard strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MTCC‐7687) had half the ergosterol content than the resistant KA01 strain. Genomic analysis revealed mutations in SQLE, ERG4, ERG11, MDR1, MFS genes, and a novel ERG3 mutation. Proteomic analysis established the aberrant expression of acetyl Co‐A transferase in the resistant strain and upregulation of thioredoxin reductase and peroxiredoxin. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate possible reasons for multidrug resistance in the prevalent strain with mutations in genes that predict terbinafine (SQLE) and azole actions (ERG4, ERG11, ERG3) apart from efflux pumps (MDR1, MFS) that can explain multidrug clinical failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Superficial dermatophyte infections are classified according to the anatomical location and are named tinea. The factors of dermatophyte infections may vary depending on socioeconomic status, geographical region, climate, and lifestyles. The diagnosis of dermatophytosis is made by clinical findings and some laboratory tests. In our study, native preparation results of patients who were admitted to our dermatology clinic with a pre-diagnosis of dermatomycoses were evaluated retrospectively according to gender, age, and localization. Material and Method: This study included 592 patients with dermatomycoses who were admitted to our clinic between the 1st of August 2018 and the 1st of December 2021. Swabs were taken from each of 592 patients. Swabs were placed in a drop of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution on a microscopic slide and covered with a coverslip. While nail and hair samples were kept on the slide for one hour, skin samples were kept on the slide for half an hour. The findings were evaluated retrospectively. Results: In our study, 265 (48.71%) of 544 patients who applied to the dermatology clinic of our hospital with a preliminary diagnosis of dermatomycosis were female and 279 (51.28%) of them were male. As a result of direct microscopic evaluation with a native preparation, 272 (50%) patients were positive. While Tinea corporis was the most common reason for patients to apply to the hospital, the highest positive rate was determined as Tinea cruris with 58.97%. In the samples, the distribution of the highest positivity according to body sites was determined as 60% tinea pedis in children, and 60.60% tinea cruris in adults. Conclusion: As a result, fungal infections have increased dramatically in recent years. The correct and early diagnosis together with early treatment initiation is extremely important in fungal infections. In addition, early diagnosis is very important in terms of minimizing the harmful effects of antifungal drugs that are prescribed unnecessarily. It has been emphasized that the native preparation method in superficial dermatophyte infections is cheap and practical, and it can quickly guide the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The classical dermatophytes diagnosis is based on mycological culture and microscopy observation both human and animal hair, skin, and nail samples. The aim of this work was to develop the new in-house real-time PCR with pan-dematophyte reaction for detection and identification of the main dermatophytes directly from hair samples, providing a simple and rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. An in-house SYBR-Green real-time PCR was designed and used for detecting a DNA fragment encoding chitin synthase 1 (CHS1). A total of 287 samples were processed by culture, microscopic examination with KOH 10%, and real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis. Melting curve analysis of the CHS1 fragment revealed to be reproducible, showing a single distinct peak for each species of dermatophyte, namely Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis , and Nannizzia gypsea (formerly M. gypseum). Then, out of the 287 clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis, 50% were positive for dermatophytes by qPCR, 44% by mycological culture, and 25% by microscopic examination. Microsporum canis was identified in 117 samples tested by culture and 134 samples tested by qPCR, followed by N. gypsea in 5 samples (either tested by culture or qPCR) and T. mentagrophytes detected in 4 and 5 samples when tested by culture or qPCR, respectively. Overall, qPCR allowed the diagnosis of dermatophytosis in clinical samples. The results suggest this newly proposed in-house real-time PCR assay can be used as alternative diagnosis and rapid identification of dermatophytes frequently associated to clinical hair samples of dogs and cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytoses are caused by fungi in the genera Microsprum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Africans use extracts of medicinal plants to treat dermatophytosis. This study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of crude leaf extract of Cassia alata on fungal isolates from dermatophytosis lesions. Subjects with suspected lesions of dermatophytosis were recruited for the study. Skin scrapings were obtained from lesions for microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Fresh Cassia alata leaves were plucked and authenticated by a Botanist. Aqueous and alcohol extraction was done using the Soxhlet extractor. Isolates were subjected to in vitro leave extracts antifungal testing using disc diffusion methods. A total of 50 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 28(56.0%) males and 22 (44.0%) females with a male to female ratio of 2.5:1. The prevalence of dermatophytes infection in the study was 14(28.0%). Trichophyton rubrum was the most encountered isolates (42.8%). Males 10 (71.4%) were more infected than females 4 (28.5%). The susceptibility rates of dermatophytes to anfungals range between 0-100% with 30 (78.6%) susceptibility to Griseofulvin. The aqueous extract was more effective with susceptibility rates 33.3% - 83.3% than ethanolic extract 16.7% - 50.0%. The dermatophytes were more susceptible to the 50µg/mL aqueous extract with rates between 50% - 83.3% while the range for the 50µg/mL ethanolic extract was 25.0% - 50.0%. Trichophyton veruccosum and E. floccosum were resistant to extracts. Cassia alata leaf extracts had antifungal activities against dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diseases of the scalp and hair adversely affect the quality of life of those affected. Proper diagnosis and therapy require a holistic assessment and the cooperation of several specialists. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of home scalp care treatments to determine the prevalent diseases among subjects, and to find out the opinions of the study participants on the diagnostic methods mentioned. Material and methods: The survey consisted of four stages. In Stage I, a diagnostic survey was conducted, and respondents were asked to complete a proprietary questionnaire. In Stage II, a routine diagnostic exam nation was performed using the Courage+Khazaka MPA® device. Stage III included an examination with a trichologist using a HD Connected ® Micro Camera. Stage IV included a routine mycological examination of the scalp. After 14 weeks of using the recommended care, the examination was performed again using the Courage+Khazaka MPA® camera. Results: Respondents participating in Phase I of this study, for the most part, have never used a trichologist, most often washed their scalp and hair daily or every other day, and mostly did not use scrubs. The problems indicated by respondents were hair loss and greasy hair. Test results using the Courage+Khazaka® device indicated deviations in skin moisture, seborrhea, redness, and pH. Mycological diagnosis of scrapings confirmed the presence of fungal cells in two cases. Among the subjects, one case of telogen effluvium was found. Conclusions: Most of those surveyed have never been to a trichologist and have no knowledge of how to properly care for the scalp or what care to use. Home care has little effect on the condition of the scalp. The micro camera examination and the results of the scrapings indicate the presence of telogen effluvium, fungal scalp inflammation, and scalp seborrhea among the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising prevalence of dermatophytosis in tropical countries coupled with drug resistance necessitates an objective scoring system to define the severity, monitor therapeutic response and predict prognoses. We attempted to establish and validate a new scoring system – Dermatophytoses Severity Score (DSS), for dermatophytoses affecting non‐glabrous skin. A consensus group was convened to develop an objective and reproducible scoring system to describe the extent and severity of dermatophytosis of 200 consecutive patients with dermatophytosis. A second assessment entailed independent DSS scoring of the same patients by dermatologists and residents who were not part of the consensus group. The main outcome measured was index reliability, assessed in two steps, between the observers. A two‐step assessment and DSS grading of 200 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed dermatophytoses showed high reliability (Cronbach's α test and intraclass correlation coefficient). The DSS has demonstrated high reliability, and it could serve as a novel, reproducible and objective scoring tool for dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]