TY - JOUR

T1 - PCR test for Microsporum canis identification

AU - Brillowska-Dabrowska, Anna

AU - Michałek, Ewelina

AU - Saunte, Ditte Marie Lindhardt

AU - Nielsen, Sanne Søgaard

AU - Arendrup, Maiken Cavling

PY - 2013/8

Y1 - 2013/8

N2 - Microsporum canis, for which the natural hosts are cats and dogs, is the most prevalent zoophilic agent causing tinea capitis and tinea corporis in humans. We present here a diagnostic PCR test for M. canis, since its detection and species identification is relevant to the choice of treatment and to the understanding of a probable source of infection. An M. canis-specific PCR was evaluated using 130 clinical isolates of dermatophytes (including M. canis [n = 15] and 13 other species), 10 yeast or mold isolates, 12 hair and skin samples from animals with or without experimental M. canis infection, and 35 patient specimens, including seven specimens positive for M. canis and 15 dermatophyte negative samples. All pure cultures, animal specimens and clinical samples with M. canis were detected by the PCR test, whereas none of the other fungal isolates or samples without M. canis was negative. This study indicates that the PCR test for M. canis identification applied directly to patient specimens or animal hair, as well as to clinical isolates had 100% specificity and sensitivity.

AB - Microsporum canis, for which the natural hosts are cats and dogs, is the most prevalent zoophilic agent causing tinea capitis and tinea corporis in humans. We present here a diagnostic PCR test for M. canis, since its detection and species identification is relevant to the choice of treatment and to the understanding of a probable source of infection. An M. canis-specific PCR was evaluated using 130 clinical isolates of dermatophytes (including M. canis [n = 15] and 13 other species), 10 yeast or mold isolates, 12 hair and skin samples from animals with or without experimental M. canis infection, and 35 patient specimens, including seven specimens positive for M. canis and 15 dermatophyte negative samples. All pure cultures, animal specimens and clinical samples with M. canis were detected by the PCR test, whereas none of the other fungal isolates or samples without M. canis was negative. This study indicates that the PCR test for M. canis identification applied directly to patient specimens or animal hair, as well as to clinical isolates had 100% specificity and sensitivity.

KW - Animals

KW - Cats

KW - Dermatomycoses/diagnosis

KW - Dogs

KW - Humans

KW - Microsporum/genetics

KW - Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods

KW - Mycology/methods

KW - Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods

KW - Sensitivity and Specificity

KW - Zoonoses/diagnosis

U2 - 10.3109/13693786.2012.755741

DO - 10.3109/13693786.2012.755741

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23294424

VL - 51

SP - 576

EP - 579

JO - Medical Mycology

JF - Medical Mycology

SN - 1369-3786

IS - 6

ER -