Molecular Characterization of Trichophyton Species by Arbitrarily Primed (AP)-PCR: A Genotypic Differentiation...

Background Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Conventional identification based on culture and morphology may be limited in differentiating closely related species. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the molecular profiling and genotypic discrimination of Trichophyton species using arbitrarily primed (AP)-PCR. Materials and methods Four common dermatophyte species were specifically detected and differentiated in the current investigation using AP-PCR: Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Trichophyton verrucosum. Four different arbitrary primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA of these species: OPAA11 (5' ACCCGACCTG 3'), OPU15 (5' ACGGGCCAGT 3'), OPAA17 (5' GAGCCCG ACT 3'), and OPD18 (5' GAGAGCCAAC 3'). Results Of the 242 superficial dermatophyte infections examined, 173 were positive for Trichophyton species. Four species were identified: T. mentagrophytes (98 isolates), T. rubrum (58 isolates), T. tonsurans (12 isolates), and T. verrucosum (five isolates). T. mentagrophytes was the predominant species, whereas T. rubrum predominated among nail infections. AP-PCR confirmed and differentiated the four Trichophyton species at the molecular level. Conclusion By overcoming the consistency and specificity constraints of traditional phenotypic approaches, AP-PCR provides a quick, dependable, sensitive, and discriminatory molecular methodology for precise dermatophyte detection.