Characterizing the clinical isolates of dermatophytes in Hamadan city, Central west of Iran, using PCR-RLFP method

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common mycotic infections, which considered as a public health problem in the major of countries. This study evaluated the molecular epidemiology of dermatophytosis in patients referred to Farshchian hospital in Hamadan city with PCR-RFLP method.

Four hundred and five specimens from clinically suspected patients of dermatophytosis were collected and analyzed by direct microscopic and culture. The isolates were identified by PCR-RFLP method using the MvaI restriction enzyme.

Of the 405 specimens, 88 specimens were positive in direct examination and culture. Among the patients, 64.8% were males and35.2% females. Tinea pedis (31.8%) was the most common type of dermatophytosis followed by tinea corporis (22.7%), tinea cruris (20.5%), tinea capitis (10.2%), tinea manuum (5.7%), tinea faciei (4.6%) and tinea unguium (4.6%). Trichophyton interdigitale (36.4%) was the most common isolate followed by Trichophyton rubrum (27.3%), Epidermophyton floccosum (17%), Trichophyton tonsurans (11.4%), Microsporum canis (4.5%), Microsporum gypseum (2.3%) and Trichophyton benhamiae (1.1%).

Our finding showed that the anthropophilic dermatophyte species causing dermatophytosis are increasing, and molecular methods are reliable assays for accurse identification of dermatophyte species in epidemiological studies.