Abstract
PurposeAnthropophilic dermatophytes as etiological factors of onychomycoses are more common than zoophilic fungi. In the case of the latter, reverse zoonoses are possible, which poses a threat to the persistence of dermatophytes in the environment. Nevertheless, without treatment, both types of tinea unguium may lead to complete nail plate destruction and secondary mixed infections with fungi and bacteria. One of the zoophilic dermatophytes that cause onychomycosis is Trichophyton verrucosum, whose prevalence has been increasing in recent years. Such infections are usually treated with allylamines and/or azoles, but such a conventional treatment of infections caused by T. verrucosum often fails or is discontinued by patients.MethodsHerein, we reveal the results of our in vitro studies related to direct application of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) on Trichophyton verrucosum growth, germination and adherence to nail as a new alternative treatment method of such types of dermatomycoses.ResultsOur in vitro studies showed that, while exposure to CAPP for 10 min delays germination of conidia and clearly impairs the fitness of the fungal structures, 15 min is enough to kill all fungal elements exposed to plasma. Moreover, the SEM images revealed that T. verrucosum cultures exposed to CAPP for 10 and 15 min were not able to invade the nail fragments.ConclusionThe results revealed that single exposure to CAPP was able to inhibit T. verrucosum growth and infection capacity. Hence, cold atmospheric pressure plasma should be considered as a promising alternative treatment of onychomycoses.
Highlights
Dermatophytoses are superficial infections caused by keratinophilic fungi with high affinity for keratin-rich epidermal layers which can affect the host tissue architecture and functions [1, 2]
We studied the effect of in vitro cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) treatment on Trichophyton verrucosum isolated as etiological factors of zoonotic onychomycoses in humans
The exposure of the dermatophyte cells to CAPP for 5 min produced the lowest decrease in viability, comparable to the non-exposed suspension of fungal cells, which indicates the weakest antifungal effect
Summary
Dermatophytoses are superficial infections caused by keratinophilic fungi with high affinity for keratin-rich epidermal layers which can affect the host tissue architecture and functions [1, 2]. Onychomycoses or tinea unguium are a special type of fungal superficial infections of nails representing nearly 50% of all noted onychopathies [3, 4] These dermatomycoses affect about 10% of the general population with frequencies that vary in different areas of the world and a high percentage in Europe [3]. Few data are available on onychomycoses in humans caused by zoophilic dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton verrucosum [12]. This species of dermatophyte is mainly associated with infections in cattle and its breeders, and its prevalence as an etiological factor of onychomycosis has been increasing in recent years [13, 14]. This poses a threat to the persistence of dermatophytes in the environment, taking into account the possibility of an asymptomatic carrier status in animals and close contacts between owners and pets [16]
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