Differentiation of Microsporum species by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and southern hybridization analyses.

Abstract

Molecular characterization of 18 species belonging to the genus Microsporum isolated from human and animal dermatophytosis was carried out by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Southern hybridization analyses. All of these 18 Microsporum species showed different band patterns specific to each species in RAPD analysis. Southern hybridization analysis using C3 probe derived from a RAPD band from Arthroderma otae, teleomorph of M. canis, revealed distinct bands in 14 of the 18 Microsporum species but not in the other four species. The sizes of the hybridized bands of the 14 species were specific to each species, except three species (A. otae, M. equinum and M. ferrugineum) showing bands of the same size. These findings indicate that the RAPD and the Southern hybridization analyses could be effective to differentiate the species of Microsporum.