title: Diagnostic performance of molecular and conventional methods for identification of dermatophyte species from clinically infected Arabian horses in Egypt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapid and accurate identification of dermatophytes is crucial for the effective control of disease outbreaks. Current methods based on culture and microscopic characteristics may require weeks before positive identification is made.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To (i) identify the most common pathogenic dermatophytes affecting Arabian horses; (ii) compare the performance of direct microscopy (DM), culture, PCR using hair samples (PCRhair ) and PCR based on culture isolates (PCRculture ) for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of hair and crusts of skin lesions from Arabian horses were collected on a monthly basis by scraping skin of affected horses. Samples were divided into three portions: the first portion was used for microscopic examination, the second for culture and the third portion for PCR amplification of intergenic spacer (ITS) regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 200 horses examined, 70 (35%) showed cutaneous lesions characteristic of dermatophytosis. DM revealed that 70.4% were positive for fungal elements and 85.7% were culture positive. The identified species were Microsporum canis, Trichophyton verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and M. equinum. Among 25 selected samples, 64, 92, 91.3 and 52% were positive for dermatophytes, as determined by DM, culture, PCRculture and PCRhair , respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dermatophytes M. canis, T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and M. equinum were the most common cause of dermatophytosis in Arabian horses. Although the number of samples was small, the ITS-based PCR may be a useful diagnostic tool when combined with culture.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Bacteriology, Mycology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Zagazig, Sharkia Province, Egypt.
authors.forename: Yasmine H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tartor
authors.affiliation: Departments of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Zagazig, Sharkia Province, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hend M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: El Damaty
authors.affiliation: Departments of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Zagazig, Sharkia Province, Egypt. yasser@sund.ku.dk, yasserpcr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasser S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1975-3454
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Mahmmod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000145:classification*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D006197:Hair; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014005:Tinea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*