Toxic effect of heavy metals on dermatophytes.

For determining the toxic effect of heavy metals on dermatophytes, eight heavy metals were tested using colony diameter method. Cadmium showed high toxicity effects on isolated fungi at minimal inhibitory concentration of 27 μg ml(-1) for Trichophyton mentagrophytes and of 20 μg ml(-1) for Epidermophyton floccosum, while iron enhanced dermatophytic growth. Other heavy metals revealed variable effect on isolated fungi. Susceptibility of E. floccosum to the activity of tested metals was greater than those of T. mentagrophytes. In conclusion, cadmium and silver are regarded to be the effective metals to prevent the development of two isolated species of dermatophytes. Growth of fungi in the presence of iron was greater than control.