Isolation and identification of dermatophytes from dogs and cats in Chennai by conventional and UniPlex PCR assay

Abstract

The present study was aimed to isolate and identify dermatophytes of dogs and cats in Chennai by conventional and molecular assay. 100 samples were collected from each dogs and cats brought to madras veterinary college teaching hospital with the symptoms of dandruff, alopecia. Initially screened by wood lamp technique, phenotypic identification was done by morphological character in Sarbourad dextrose agar and Dermatophyte test medium. Molecular analysis by Uniplex PCR was performed by targeting 18s-RNA gene of fungi belonging to genera Microsporum and Trihophyton. As a result, 34 pure cultures of dermatophytes from dogs and 43 pure cultures of dermatophyte from cats respectively. Three different species were identified from culture as M. canis, M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes by morphological characters. A total of Microsporum (21%), Trichophyton (8%) genus in dogs, a total of Microsporum (29%), Trichophyton (12%) genus in cats were confirmed by Uniplex PCR.