Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Dermatophytes in Donkeys

Background: Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection of skin, hair and nail caused by dermatophytes. The zoonotic nature of the disease requires early detection for implication of treatment.

Aim: The study was conducted to investigate into the cause of skin infection among donkeys in Eldamazine State, Central Sudan.

Study Design: This a case history studies over one year duration.

Methodology: A total of 31 samples of skin scrapings from donkeys with an age ranged 2-20years, from Eldamazie state, Sudan,were collected. Samples were cultured onto Sabouraud’S (SDA) media. The developed colonies were identified by convention method and characterized by molecular techniques using polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton verrucosum were the predominant isolated dermatophytes revealed on investigation. Amplification of the β-tubulin gene, by polymerase chain reaction, and analysis of the amplicon sequence, further confirmed their identification. The study revealed first report on characterization of these isolates by molecular methods using β- tubulin primers.

Conclusion: The present investigation showed that the integration of different methods and techniques led to identification of useful molecular marker for standardization of taxonomical studies of dermatophyte species.