title: The use of a one-step PCR method for the identification of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection of pets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatophytes are a closely related group of keratinophilic fungi. They encompass important etiological agents of superficial fungal infections. These fungi are able to invade keratinized tissues of humans and animals, causing dermatophytosis (ringworm) of hair, nails or skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Traditional diagnostics of ringworm is based on morphological identification of cultured fungi and is time-consuming.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we applied a method patented by Brillowska-Dabrowska and coworkers (Brillowska-Dąbrowska A, Saunte DM, Arenderup MC, 2007, Five-hour diagnosis of dermatophyte nail infections with specific detection of Trichophyton rubrum. J Clin Microbiol 45: 1200-1204) which involves extraction of fungal DNA and PCR amplification with pan-dermatophyte primers to confirm the presence of dermatophytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The method used here is able to confirm the presence of dermatophyte DNA in pure cultures in less than 5 hours.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dąbrowska
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Bożena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dworecka-Kaszak
authors.affiliation: Gdansk University of Technology, Department of Microbiology, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brillowska-Dąbrowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D006197:Hair / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008864:Microsporum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal