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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
On-Site Molecular Detection of Soil-Borne Phytopathogens Using a Portable Real-Time PCR System
Published on: February 23, 2018
Routine laboratory test enabling the detection of dermatophytes and the identification of Trichophyton rubrum by
Thomas Pablo1, Alexandre Mzabi1, Marie Meo1
1Bacteriology, Mycology, Antibiotic Resistance and Hospital Hygiene Service, Department of Microbiology, Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
Abstract:
Dermatophytes are responsible, in majority, for fungal infections of skin, hair and nails, and Trichophyton rubrum is the most frequently isolated dermatophyte in humans. The time for dermatophyte growth in culture requires a total of two to four weeks. Molecular methods were developed to improve time to diagnosis and initiation of treatment. We present here an in-house duplex real-time PCR enabling detection of dermatophytes and simultaneous identification of T. rubrum from mycological samples and cultures. The objective of this work was to optimize the fungal DNA extraction method, the detection of dermatophytes and the identification of T. rubrum on a CFX96® (Real-Time PCR Detection System). In addition, the method comparison showed that this new method is more sensitive than the culture and microscopic observations. To conclude, this routinely used method has been accredited ISO 15189 since January 2020 in our laboratory.
