Albiaty, Diana Jalal and Ahmed, Tabark Fadhil and Jebara, Raheem Khudair (2026) MOLECULAR IDENTİFİCATİON, VİRULENCE FACTORS, AND ANTİFUNGAL SUSCEPTİBİLİTY OF DERMATOPHYTES CAUSİNG TİNEA CORPORİS. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE AND LIFE-SCIENCE RESEARCH, 5 (9).

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Abstract

Background: Tinea corporis is a superficial dermatophyte infection that remains an important dermatological problem, particularly in warm and humid environments. Objective: This study investigated the occurrence and species distribution of dermatophytes among patients with suspected cutaneous fungal infection in Wasit Province, Iraq, and evaluated antifungal susceptibility and selected molecular virulence markers.  Methods: Skin scrapings were collected from 125 patients attending the dermatology service between December 2021 and April 2022. Specimens were examined by 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Dermatophyte isolates were identified by conventional morphology and confirmed by PCR. Antifungal susceptibility was evaluated by disk diffusion against six agents, while E-test minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for itraconazole and fluconazole. PCR assays were also used to detect selected virulence-associated genes.  Results: Fifty dermatophyte isolates were identified among the 125 participants. T. mentagrophytes was the predominant dermatophyte (26/50, 52%), followed by T. rubrum (12/50, 24%) and M. canis (12/50, 24%). The most frequent sampling site was the groin (24.0%), followed by the arm (23.2%) and trunk (16.0%). Among the total participants, 72 (57.6%) were male and 53 (42.4%) were female. Disk diffusion results reported susceptibility of all three dermatophyte species to clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole, whereas resistance was reported to amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole. E-test MIC ranges for itraconazole were 0.094–1.5 µg/mL for T. mentagrophytes, 0.125–2 µg/mL for T. rubrum, and 0.19–1 µg/mL for M. canis; fluconazole values were reported as 0 or >256 µg/mL. PCR confirmed the three dermatophyte species and detected selected virulence-associated genes, including SUB and tef-1-alpha in T. mentagrophytes and protease/phospholipase markers in T. rubrum and M. canis.  Conclusion: T. mentagrophytes was the predominant dermatophyte recovered in this study. Combining conventional mycology with molecular confirmation provided species-level identification, while the susceptibility findings indicate marked differences among tested antifungal agents. The findings support continued surveillance of dermatophyte species and antifungal susceptibility in Iraq.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Tinea corporis, dermatophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, PCR, virulence factors, antifungal susceptibility
Subjects:	H Social Sciences
Depositing User:	admin eprints
Date Deposited:	10 Oct 2026 04:48
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2026 04:48
URI:	http://eprints.umsida.ac.id/id/eprint/17162

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