title: Antifungal effects of the biological agent Pythium oligandrum observed in vitro.
abstract: Objectives Dermatophytosis, commonly known as ringworm, is a superficial fungal skin disease and zoonosis. Pythium oligandrum is a micromycete with mycoparasitic properties that is used in agriculture to control fungal infections on plants. Formulations containing P oligandrum were also developed for the treatment of dermatophytoses, but only a small number of case studies have been published. In order to document the process in simplified conditions in vitro, we investigated the effectiveness of P oligandrum against three pathogenic dermatophytes common in domestic animals. Methods Cultures of the pathogens grown on nutrient media and experimentally infected cat hair were treated with P oligandrum preparations in therapeutic concentration and the changes were documented by microscopic videos and scanning electron microscopy. Results There was strong mycoparasitic activity of P oligandrum against Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Conclusions and relevance P oligandrum was demonstrated to be effective against three common causes of dermatophytosis in vitro.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.|2 Private Veterinary Practice for Small Animals, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Načeradská
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Geology, Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridrichová
authors.affiliation: 4 Sevaron, Diagnostic Laboratory, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Dita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kellnerová
authors.affiliation: 5 Vemodia, Laboratory for Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Soňa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peková
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lány
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D006197:Hair / Q000382:microbiology; D008864:Microsporum / Q000187:drug effects*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D011775:Pythium; D014005:Tinea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents