PCR and real-time PCR approaches to the identification of Arthroderma otae species Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii/Microsporum ferrugineum.
OBJECTIVE
The identification of species in the Arthroderma otae complex is essential to determine the origin of infection and to eliminate the risk of transmission. Microsporum canis is a zoophilic species, whereas Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum ferrugineum are anthropophilic species. In this paper, we propose alternative methods that permit species-specific identification of both anthropophilic and zoophilic members of the A. otae complex METHODS: Two PCR assays were designed based on differences in the DNA fragment encoding β-tubulin and were applied in both traditional and real-time PCR using DNA isolated by rapid method from culture.


RESULTS
The two assays presented in this study enable the identification of M. canis and M. audouinii/M. ferrugineum with 100% sensitivity and specificity by both traditional and real-time PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
We developed a new diagnostic assay using specific primers and both traditional and real-time PCR reactions that can be applied in routine laboratory praxis as well as in epidemiological studies to detect M. canis and M. audouinii/M. ferrugineum DNA from a pure culture.
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.
N
N
Kobylak
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
B
B
Bykowska
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.
E
E
Kurzyk
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
R
R
Nowicki
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland. annbrill@pg.gda.pl.
A
A
Brillowska-Dąbrowska
D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008864:Microsporum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity