Lactoferrin given in food facilitates dermatophytosis cure in guinea pig models.

Dermatophytosis is the most common skin infection caused by dermatophytic fungi, such as Trichophyton spp. We studied the in vitro and in vivo antifungal effects of lactoferrin against Trichophyton. Human and bovine lactoferrin, and a bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide, lactoferricin B, showed in vitro antifungal activity that was dependent on the test strain and medium used. In guinea pigs infected on the back with Trichophyton mentagrophytes (i.e. those with tinea corporis), consecutive daily po administration of bovine lactoferrin did not prevent development of symptoms during the early phase of infection, but facilitated clinical improvement of skin lesions after the peak of the symptoms. The fungal burden in lesions was less in guinea pigs that had been given lactoferrin than in untreated controls 21 days after infection. In guinea pigs infected on the foot with T. mentagrophytes (i.e. those with tinea pedis), the fungal burden of the skin on the heel portion of the infected foot 35 days after infection was lower in animals fed lactoferrin than in controls. These results suggest the potential usefulness of lactoferrin as a food component for promoting dermatophytosis cure.