Background: Dermatophytosis is the common cutaneous infections in humans and animals, which is caused by the keratinophylic fungus called dermatophytes. In recent years, drugs resistance in pathogenic fungi, including dermatophyte strains to the current antifungals have been increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of AgNPs against Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum.Materials and Methods: The antifungal susceptibility of nanosilver particles compared with griseofulvin (GR). Its efficacy was investigated against three strains of dermatophytes by both agar dilution and broth microdilution test (BMD).Results: The average minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) AgNPs on M. canis, T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum were 200, 180 and 170 mg.mL-1, respectively. Whereas these strains showed MIC of 25, 100 and 50 mg.mL-1 for GR.Conclusions: Our finding indicated that the AgNPs was less active than GR but it had anti-dermatophytic effect.

Background and objective: In recent decades, the prevalence of superficial fungal infections, including dermatophytosis, has notably increased. By determining the side effects and effects of using chemical and synthetic drugs, the use of medicinal plants with fewer side effects has been considered by human. The purpose of this study was to investigate antifungal activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Spirulina platensis on Microsporum canis isolates. Material and methods: In this experimental study, Persian Spirulina platensis extract was prepared as a hydroalcoholic solution. The antifungal effect of different concentrations of algae extract was evaluated with disk-diffusion method on Microsporum canis isolates. Results: All Microsporum canis isolates were susceptible to hydroalcoholic extract of Spirulina platansis, so that the diameter of the growth inhibition halo was between 0. 5 and 19 mm for all isolates. Most inhibitory effect of algae extract was the concentration of 160 mg /disc. Also, the results showed that Terbinafine, as a positive control, had significant difference with all concentrations of algae extract (P <0. 05). Conclusion: according to the results of this study and increasing resistance of pathogenic fungi to conventional antifungal treatments, it is suggested that more research is needed on Spirulina platensis to use its antimicrobial compounds in the treatment of infectious diseases such as fungi.

A 3-month-old male red fox that was in contact with a Persian cat referred to the small animal hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran with multi-focal circular non-pruritic skin lesions and hair loss mainly on the head and extremities. A complete series of dermatologic tests such as Wood’s light examination, direct microscopic examination, and fungal culture were performed. The isolated pathogen was identified as Microsporum canis. The animal was treated using topical and systemic ketoconazole for 4 weeks. After treatment, the lesions were completely disappeared, and there was no recurrence of skin lesions during the follow-up period. It should be noted that asymptomatic cats may carry M. canis, thus may increase the risk of fungal infections for their owners and other pets as well. This is the first documented report of M. canis infection and its treatment in a red fox.

Background and Purpose: Dermatophytosis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases. Increased resistance of dermatophytosis-causing pathogens against antidermatophytic agents highlights the need for alternative medicine with higher efficiency and lower side effects. In the present study, the in vitro antifungal activities of different concentrations of Gracilaria corticata methanol extract against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum were assessed and their efficacy was evaluated in rat dermatophytosis models. Materials and Methods: The broth microdilution and well diffusion methods were used to determine the in vitro antidermatophytic activity. The in vivo study was carried out using 40 dermatophytosis-infected adults male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups (5% and 10% G. corticata ointment, terbinafine, and Vaseline) and treated with ointment until complete recovery. The percentage of wound closure was calculated for each group. Results: The results revealed that G. corticata methanol extract was effective to varying extents against the tested dermatophytes. The highest inhibitory activity of G. corticata was found against T. mentagrophytes with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration values of 4 and 9 μ, g mL-1, respectively. The in vivo experiment revealed that 10% G. corticata ointment significantly accelerated skin lesions reduction and completely cured M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes, and M. canis infections after 19, 25, and 38 days, respectively. Conclusion: The methanol extract of G. corticata exhibited significant antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that it could be used as an alternative to antidermatophytic therapy in a dose-dependent manner.

Background and Objectives: Although, more than three hundred thousands types of herbs have been recognized so far, just ten thousand ones have been tested for their pharmacological specificity. Garlic which is not used daily has antiseptic, antibacterial, antihelminths and blood pressure reducing specificities. The objectives of this study are to: 1) study the antifungal activity of the aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. 2) Know the minimum amount of inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the garlic extracts on these dermatophytes. 3) Compare the effects of the different dilutions of garlic extracts with ketoconazole.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the fresh bulb of garlic was cleaned, skinned, dried and powdered. Garlic powder was solved in 80% methanol and distilled water. This yellow solution remained in lab for four days. After steaming, filtering and concentrating, the concentrated solution was kept inside the pipette in oven for 48h in 50oC in order to make the dry extract. Methanol and aqueous dilutions (0.625 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml), from 200mg powder of the concentrated extracts of garlic were prepared separately. Three strains of dermatophytes were cultured on the media which contained different dilutions.Results: The MIC of the aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic on T. mentagrophytes and M. canis was the same; however, the effect of methanol extract on M. gypseum was more than effect of the aqueous extract. In total, extract dilations of 10mg/ml and 20 mg/ml had the highest effects on the growth of these dermatophytes.Conclusion: On the basis of the results of this study, it is clear that garlic plant in either aquatic or methanolic extract could be effective against Geophilic, Zoophilic & Anthropophilic fungi

Background and Objective: Until yet, there is no investigation in the field of apoptosis feature in UV-light exposed dermotophyte fungi of Epidennophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. So, in this study, we tried to detect the Apoptosis feature in dermatophyte fungi of Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Then the results were analyzed by molecular methods.Materials and methods: The colonies of mentioned dermatophytes were irradiated by UV light at the wavelength of 302 nm. To investigate the possible Apoptosis feature, the high molecular-weight DNA was isolated from non-irradiated and irradiated colonies of dermatophytes respectively and then were run through 1% agarose gel.Results: Isolated DNA molecules, showed no differences between DNA banding patterns. By the performed protocol in this project, no feature of Apoptosis was detected in the dermatophyte fungi of Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.Conclusions: By the help of this UV-irradiation protocol, it is impossible to obeserve the apoptosis feature in dermatophyte fungi of Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Maybe the negative tropism of these fungi against UVB is the main reason of no Apoptosis feature.