Hameed Khalid, Riaz Ch Farhana, Nawaz Muhammad Ali, Naqvi Syed Muhammad Saqlan, Gräser Yvonne, Kupsch Christiane, Pasquetti Mario, Rossi Luca, Molinar Min Anna Rita, Tizzani Paolo, Chiavassa Elisa, Peano Andrea
Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2017 Apr 30;11(4):326-333. doi: 10.3855/jidc.7925.
Trichophyton verrucosum belongs to the dermatophyte fungi, closely related organisms that cause skin infections in animals and humans. T. verrucosum infection has been reported in livestock and people in different countries from all continents. Human cases have been reported in different areas of Pakistan, but there is little information about the animal source of the fungus.
Dermatological specimens collected in the Chitral district of Pakistan for a study on mange in livestock were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of T. verrucosum. In total, 5,873 animals (1,087 cows, 2,033 goats, and 2,753 sheep) were screened for evidence of dermatological lesions during two surveys performed in the summer and winter seasons. Skin scrapings collected from animals with lesions were analyzed by direct microscopic examination after digestion in sodium hydroxide and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting pathogenic Trichophyton species.
At microscopy, samples from 18 cows (1.6%), 3 sheep (0.1%), and 4 goats (0.2%) were positive for fungal elements consistent with T. verrucosum. PCR confirmed the microscopy results. The prevalence was lower than that reported in other countries in intensive breeding farms. Results agree with the literature regarding factors affecting T. verrucosum diffusion, i.e., infection was more prevalent in cattle, especially in younger animals during the winter season.
This study reports, for the first time, the presence of T. verrucosum in livestock in Pakistan. A better knowledge of the animal role in the spread of this fungus may allow the adoption of more efficient control measures and prophylaxis.
疣状毛癣菌属于皮肤癣菌真菌，是一类与动物和人类皮肤感染密切相关的生物体。在各大洲的不同国家均有关于家畜和人类感染疣状毛癣菌的报道。巴基斯坦不同地区已有人类感染病例的报告，但关于该真菌的动物来源信息却很少。
对在巴基斯坦奇特拉尔地区为一项家畜疥癣研究而收集的皮肤病学标本进行回顾性分析，以检测疣状毛癣菌的存在情况。在夏季和冬季进行的两次调查中，总共对5873只动物（1087头奶牛、2033只山羊和2753只绵羊）进行了皮肤病损证据筛查。从有病变的动物身上采集的皮肤刮屑，经氢氧化钠消化后通过直接显微镜检查以及针对致病性毛癣菌属物种的实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）进行分析。
在显微镜检查中，来自18头奶牛（1.6%）、3只绵羊（0.1%）和4只山羊（0.2%）的样本中发现了与疣状毛癣菌一致的真菌成分，结果呈阳性。PCR证实了显微镜检查结果。该患病率低于其他国家集约化养殖场的报告患病率。结果与关于影响疣状毛癣菌传播因素的文献一致，即感染在牛中更为普遍，尤其是在冬季的幼龄动物中。
本研究首次报告了巴基斯坦家畜中存在疣状毛癣菌。更好地了解动物在这种真菌传播中的作用，可能有助于采取更有效的控制措施和预防措施。
