Northwest Iranian dermatophyte isolates: anthropophilic and geophilic.

Abstract

Background and purposes: The fungi known as dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic agents responsible for superficial infections in humans and animals. Recognition of the species distribution and epidemiology of dermatophytosis may be helpful in the prevention and improve prophylactic measures. The present molecular epidemiology study sought to investigate the incidence of etiological agents causing dermatophytosis.

Materials and methods: The morphologic methods and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism using MvaI restriction enzyme were performed to identify dermatophytes isolated from the soil, compost, and clinical samples.

Results: Based on findings, 39 (8.1%) clinical specimens and 10 (8.2%) environmental samples were morphologically and molecularly identified as dermatophytes. In the clinical samples, Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale species complex was isolated with the highest incidence rate. The dermatophytes comprise seven species of the four genera, viz., T. interdigitale (currently T. mentagrophytes, n=15, 40.5%), Microsporum canis (n=10, 27%), T. verrucosum (n=5, 13.5%), T. rubrum (n=4, 10.8%), Myriodontium keratinophilum (n=2, 5.4%), and T. benhamiae (n=1, 2.7%). The geophilic identified species included Nannizzia gypsea (n=5), Arthroderma multifidum (n=2), Afanoascus flavisence (n=2), and Nannizzia fulva (n=1).

Conclusion: The current study provides a diverse overview of dermatophytes in the northwest of Iran to improve their surveillance. The present investigation of clinical specimens revealed that Myriodontium keratinophilum, as a species rarely detected with keratolytic properties, emerged as a causative agent of dermatophytosis.