Frequency Distribution of Keratinophilic Dermatophyte Fungi from the Soil of Different Zones in Isfahan Using Morphological and Molecular Methods.

BACKGROUND

Dermatophytes are one of the most important etiologic agents of cutaneous infections in humans and animals. The present study aimed to study the frequency distribution of keratinophilic dermatophyte fungi using conventional and molecular methods in soil of Isfahan city.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 200 soil samples were randomly selected in three northern, southern, and central parts of Isfahan using hair-baiting technique. The fungi were identified by morphology based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of fungi. Furthermore, the sequencing of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA of the 60 randomly isolated fungi was investigated.

RESULTS

The results of conventional method showed that from a total of 371 fungal colonies, the highest amount of detected colonies was in the central zone (151, 40.26%). Furthermore, in all three areas, the most common detected dermatophyte was (38.3%). The results of the molecular analysis showed that identified by the morphology method was , and also, sp. with the frequency of 30% in morphology method was the second dominated fungus including (42.6%) and (21.4%) which confirmed by sequencing method.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that keratinophilic dermatophyte fungi including , and are found in the children playgrounds in Isfahan. Therefore, health-care officials should pay more attention to these hygienic issues. , which is found here for the first time in Iran, has been reported only from China.