Dermatophytosis among Ruminants in Egypt: The Infection Rate, Identification and Comparison between Microscopic, Cultural and Molecular Methods

Abd-Elmegeed, Mohammed; El-Mekkawi, Mamdouh F.; El-Diasty, Eman M.; Fawzi, Elshaima M.

doi:10.21608/zvjz.2019.16779.1081

Dermatophytosis among Ruminants in Egypt: The Infection Rate, Identification and Comparison between Microscopic, Cultural and Molecular Methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Medicine Department, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt

² Mycology Department, Animal Health Research Institute Dokki- Giza, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/zvjz.2019.16779.1081

Abstract

Dermatophytosis is a skin disease of farm animals caused by different species of the Microsporum and Trichophyton genera. Although the disease is self-limiting, ringworm has a major public and veterinary health problem with worldwide distribution including Egypt. The objectives of this study were to estimate the infection rate of dermatophytosis in ruminants, identify the incriminated dermatophyte species and differentiate among them using conventional and molecular methods. Moreover, assessment of the role of environmental risk factors in the occurrence of the disease. Cow (n=197), sheep (n=103) and goats (n=70) of different breeds, sexes, and ages in Sharkia and Dakahalia Governorates were clinically examined during the period from June 2018 to July 2019. Out of the examined animals, 111 (30%) have skin lesions consistent with dermatophytosis. The infection rate of the disease was 30, 37.9 and 18.6% in cow, sheep and goat, respectively. The rate of infection was higher in the Holstein breed (36.6%) compared to native breed (23%). The higher rate of infection was found amongst lambs less than 6 months while in cow and goats the infection rate was higher in animals more than 6 months old. Male animals were generally more infected than females in all studied animals, and the infection was more common in winter season. Trichophyton verrucosum was the most commonly identified dermatophyte species (25.6%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) along with restriction fragment length polymorphism method (RFLP) succeeded to differentiate between both isolated Trichophyton and Microsporum species. In conclusion, PCR along with culture results acted as gold standard methods for diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method was considered as a rapid approach with high specificity and sensitivity to identify and differentiate dermatophytes in ruminants.

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