Related Experiment Videos
Soil dermatophytes in Madras, India, in relation to human ringworm
S A Balajee1, S Ranganathan, T Menon
1Department of Microbiology, Dr A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, India.
Mycoses
|February 26, 1998
Summary
Soil in Madras, India, harbors dermatophytes like Trichophyton mentagrophytes. These soil-dwelling fungi, including Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii mating types, may serve as a reservoir for human infections such as tinea capitis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Dermatophytosis Epidemiology
Background:
- Dermatophytes are fungi causing superficial infections.
- Soil is a potential reservoir for dermatophytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize dermatophytes from Madras soils.
- To investigate the potential role of soil as a reservoir for human dermatophyte infections.
Main Methods:
- Hair-baiting technique for isolating dermatophytes from 269 soil samples.
- Mating experiments to determine mating types of isolated Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
- DNA homology studies for clinical and soil isolates.
Main Results:
- Isolated three Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 16 Microsporum gypseum complex strains.
- Identified both (+) and (-) mating types for Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii from soil isolates.
- Found teleomorphic and mating type homology between clinical and soil Trichophyton mentagrophytes, with DNA homology between clinical strains and Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii.
Conclusions:
- Soil in Madras acts as a reservoir for Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
- Identified a potential epidemiological link between soil and clinical dermatophyte infections.
- Findings support the environmental origin of some human dermatophytosis cases.