Trichophyton rubrum

Background: Dermatophyte, a keratinophilic fungus which can invade keratinized tissue cause dermatophytosis. It is one of the major superficial fungal infections. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 20-25% world population is affected by dermatophytes. The aim of this study was to identify different species of dermatophytes causing dermatophytosis at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.
Methods: Total 246 skin, nail and hair samples were collected from Dermatology and Venereology department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dermatophytes were identified by microscopy, culture, biochemical test (urease test and hair perforation test) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fungal elements were observed under microscope. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM) were used to culture the specimen. Species identification was confirmed by biochemical test and PCR.
Results: Among 246 clinically diagnosed cases of dermatophytosis, 91 (36.98%) cases were observed among the age group of 21-30 years. Female were more affected than male (male-female ratio was1:1.34). Eighty-five (34.55%) cases were positive by microscopy and 76 (30.89%) cases were positive in culture. Trichophyton mentagrophyte was the common etiological dermatophyte species which was 59.21% followed by Trichophyton rubrum (40.79%). All culture isolates were further evaluated by biochemical test and PCR. Most of the tinea corporis was caused by Trichophyton mentagrophyte which was 64.81%.
Conclusion: Dermatophytosis is a common infection in young adults specially females. Trichophyton mentagrophyte is more frequent type of dermatophyte. Majority of dermatophytes could be identified by both direct microscopy and culture methods.

This investigation represents the first epidemiological survey on the dermatophytosis occurring among the population in the area of Annaba. From April 2011 to March 2013, 166 swabs from the hair, skin, and nails were collected from 118 patients in order to identify the dermatophyte flora. Gradually, results show a prevalence of 4.21% for tinea capitis, 44.57% for tinea corporis and 51.20% for tinea unguium. Cultures in Sabouraud medium and microscopic examination enabled to identify 10 species of dermatophytes and to evaluate the specific prevalence: Trichophyton rubrum 24%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 16%, Microsporum verrucosum 12%, Microsporum audouinii 12%, Epidermophyton floccosum 08%, Trichophyton shoeneiilii 08%, Trichophyton sp. 08%, Microsporum ferrugeneum 04%, Microsporum longeroni 04% and Trichophyton rosaceum 04%. The Tricophytic dermatophytes occurrence (72%) predominate the Microsporic dermatophytes (20%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (8%).

Objectives: Evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of itraconazole plus terbinafine for refractory onychomycosis. This is a prospective
clinical trial. Patients with proven Trychophyton rubrum onychomycosis of toenails were enrolled; the treatment consisted of weekly
administration: itraconazole 200mg/day and terbinafine 250mg/day, for four months. Results: Thirty-two patients with onychomycosis
were studied. Twenty-eight cases had distal subungual onychomycosis and 4 total dystrophic onychomycosis. At the end of the follow-up
17/32 patients had clinical and mycologic cure (53.12%), 5 had clinical improvement only (15.6%), and 10 (31.2%) failed.
Conclusion: Weekly alternate therapy with itraconazole + terbinafine represents a safe rescue treatment.

Trichophyton rubrum is an anthropophilic fungus causing up to 90% of chronic cases of dermatophytosis. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However, a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the subunit G of its vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase). Pairs of 21 nt primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the V-ATPase subunit G genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR using isolated genomic DNA template as well as cytoplasmic RNA of T.rubrum and the PCR and RT-PCR fragments were then sequenced. About 469 nucleotides were sequenced which encoded a polypeptide with 119 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence comparison in gene data banks (NCBI, NIH) for both the DNA and its deduced amino acid sequence revealed significant homology with V-ATPase subunit G genes and proteins of other eukaryotic cells. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein was about 84% i...

Hypnea pannosa J. Agardh (methanol extract of the whole alga) was subjected toantifungal screening. Extract showed good activity against Trichophyton longifusus, low activity against Candida glabrata and Microsporum canis. The extract was found to be inactive against Fusarium solani.