Abstract
The enzymatic and antifungal profiles of dermatophytes play an important role in causing infections in humans and animals. This study aimed to assess the virulence factors produced by Microsporum canis strains, in vitro antifungal profile and the relationship between virulence, antifungal profile and occurrence of lesions in animals and humans. A total of 100 M. canis strains from humans with tinea corporis (n = 10) and from animals presenting (n = 64) or not (n = 26) skin lesions was employed to evaluate phospholipase (Pz), hemolytic (Hz), lipase (Lz), catalase (Ca), and thermotolerance (GI) activities. In addition, in vitro antifungal profile was conducted using the CLSI broth microdilution method. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in Lz and Ca values was revealed among strains from hosts with and without lesions. Voriconazole, terbinafine, and posaconazole were the most active drugs followed by ketoconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, and fluconazole in decreasing activity order. The significant positive correlation between azole susceptibility profile of M. canis and virulence factors (i.e., hemolysin and catalase) suggest that both enzyme patterns and antifungal susceptibility play a role in the appearance of skin lesions in animals and humans.
Highlights
Microsporum canis is one of the major pathogenic and most prevalent dermatophytes of domestic animals with a zoonotic potential that may cause tinea capitis and tinea corporis in humans [1,2,3,4,5,6]
A total of 100 M. canis strains from humans with tinea corporis (n = 10), animals with (n = 64) and without (n = 26) skin lesions showed phenotypic features typical for
Data presented in this study show that M. canis strains isolated from humans and animals with and without skin lesions produce different virulence factors with a variable antifungal profile which might be linked to occurrence of skin lesions
Summary
Microsporum canis is one of the major pathogenic and most prevalent dermatophytes of domestic animals with a zoonotic potential that may cause tinea capitis and tinea corporis in humans [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Clinical presentation of this infection is characterized by multifocal alopecia and scaly, circular lesions (usually referred to as “ringworm”), similar to that caused by other dermatophytes or other skin diseases [7]. Phospholipase secreted (Pz) might cause tissue damage through the hydrolysis of phospholipids and degradation of cell membranes [14], while lipase (Lz) is essential in the initial stages of dermatophyte infection through invasion of the stratum corneum in animals [13]
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