Molecular Characterisation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Dermatophytic Fungi Isolated from Tinea Capitis in Northwest Nigeria Using Sequence of the 28S rRNA

Abstract

The detection and identification of fungal DNA from clinical samples is one of the fundamental approaches in biomedicine. The incidence, distribution, and control of dermatophytes has progress significantly and the use of phylogenetic species concepts based on rRNA regions have enhanced the taxonomy of dermatophyte species; however, the use of 28S rDNA genes has certain limitations. This gene has been used in dermatophyte taxonomy with limited enumeration; we appraised the sequence disparity within and among groups of the species, the gene ranking in identification, phylogenetic analysis, and taxonomy of 32 strains of eight dermatophyte species. In this study, a set of primers was adopted to amplify the target followed by a partial sequencing of the rDNA. The utilization of a pairwise nucleotide differentiation, an affinity was observed among eight dermatophyte species, with disparity among species ranging from 0 to 197 base pair (bp). Intra-species bp differences were found within strains of Trichophyton eriotrephon, Trichophyton bullosum, Trichophyton simii (Trichophyton genus), Microsporum audouinii, and Trichophyton tonsurans (Microsporum and Trichophyton genus, respectively); however, only some strains of Trichophyton eriotrephon were found to be invariant having three genotypes. Trichophyton tonsurans exhibited most intra-species variability. The characterization and construction of a phylogenetic tree of 28S rDNA gene on dermatophyte species provide a bedrock of an additional finding of connections between species. However, 28S rRNA capture provides a novel method of effective and sensitive detection of dermatophytes lodged in human skin scale. We report for the first time the emergence of T. eriotrephon, T. bullosum, T. simii, T. benhamiae, and Ctenomyces serratus dermatophytes from Tinea capitis in Nigeria.

Comparison of in vitro activities of newer triazoles and classic antifungal agents against dermatophyte species isolated from Iranian University Hospitals: a multi-central study

“…Ungo-kore et al . in Northwest Nigeria reported in “phylogenetic analysis of dermatophytes fungi isolated from tinea capitis”, the phylogenetic tree of 28S rDNA sequences revealed a cluster consisting of anthropophilic and zoophilic [ 49 ]. Our study is similar to other studies [ 48 , 49 ], indicating the isolates were complex and anthropomorphic and zoophilic species diverged from the same origin.…”

Analysis of optimal control strategies on the fungal Tinea capitis infection fractional order model with cost-effective analysis

“…Anthropophilic (human), zoophilic (animal), or geophilic (soil) are Dermatophytes classifications with their species as Microsporum,Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton and also they are the main causes of Dermatophytosis 1 , 2 . Dermatophyte is one of the most common causes of human fungal infections throughout the world and affecting the skin, hair, scalp, and nails of human and animal hosts 1 , 3 .…”

“…It is often ignored but it accounts for 25–30% of all fungal infections and is common in developing countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa countries 13 , 14 . The Tinea capitis is a common children hair or scalp infection problem, and has been a worldwide public health concern and since it is a highly contagious infection and it has adverse events such as high economic burden, blood test follow-up, and significant cost of systemic treatments 1 , 15 . It predominantly occurs in rular or suburban regions and its common risk factors are poor hygiene, overcrowding, humidity, cultural habits, socioeconomic status and heat 2 , 15 , 20 .…”