title: Successful identification of clinical dermatophyte and Neoscytalidium species by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Dermatophytes are keratinolytic fungi responsible for a wide variety of diseases of glabrous skin, nails, and hair. Their identification, currently based on morphological criteria, is hindered by intraspecies morphological variability and the atypical morphology of some clinical isolates. The aim of this study was to evaluate matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a routine tool for identifying dermatophyte and Neoscytalidium species, both of which cause dermatomycoses. We first developed a spectral database of 12 different species of common and unusual dermatophytes and two molds responsible for dermatomycoses (Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and N. dimidiatum var. hyalinum). We then prospectively tested the performance of the database on 381 clinical dermatophyte and Neoscytalidium isolates. Correct identification of the species was obtained for 331/360 dermatophytes (91.9%) and 18/21 Neoscytalidium isolates (85.7%). The results of MALDI-TOF MS and standard identification disagreed for only 2 isolates. These results suggest that MALDI-TOF MS could be a useful tool for routine and fast identification of dermatophytes and Neoscytalidium spp. in clinical mycology laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades AP-HP, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Kinda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alshawa
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Beretti
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuilhade
authors.forename: Brunhilde
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dauphin
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quesne
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hassouni
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nassif
authors.forename: Marie-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bougnoux
mesh_terms: D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*