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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates
Published on: October 28, 2021
Fusarium oxysporum is an onychomycosis etiopathogenic agent
Flávia F Veiga1, Lidiane V de Castro-Hoshino2, Francielle Sato2
1Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
Aim:
To evaluate and characterize the etiopathogenesis of the fusarial onychomycosis in an ex vivo study through fragments of sterile human nail, without the addition of any nutritional source.
Materials & Methods:
The infection and invasion of Fusarium oxysporum in the nail were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CFU, matrix, histopathology and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer coupled to an equipment with diamond accessory (FTIR-ATR).
Results:
F. oxysporum infected and invaded across the nail, regardless of application face. However, the dorsal nail surface was the strongest barrier, while the ventral was more vulnerable to infection and invasion process. The fungal-nail interaction resulted in the formation of a dense biofilm.
Conclusion:
F. oxysporum infect and invade the healthy human nail, resulting in biofilm formation. Therefore, F. oxysporum is likely a primary onychomycosis agent.
Insights
Fusarium oxysporum infects human nails, forming a biofilm and suggesting it as a primary cause of fungal nail infections (onychomycosis). This ex vivo study highlights nail structure
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Onychomycosis is a common nail fungal infection.
- The etiopathogenesis of Fusarium-induced onychomycosis requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiopathogenesis of Fusarium oxysporum causing onychomycosis.
- To characterize fungal-nail interactions in an ex vivo human nail model.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo human nail fragments were used.
- Infection and invasion were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CFU counts, histopathology, and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Fusarium oxysporum infected and invaded nail fragments irrespective of the application surface.
- The ventral nail surface was more susceptible to invasion than the dorsal surface.
- A dense fungal biofilm formed upon interaction between Fusarium oxysporum and the nail.
Conclusions:
- Fusarium oxysporum can infect and invade healthy human nails, leading to biofilm formation.
- These findings suggest Fusarium oxysporum as a potential primary agent of onychomycosis.
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