Background and objective. Microsporum gypseum is a common saprophyte of the soil and an occasional causative agent of human and animal dermatophytoses. Even though perfect forms of species of the complex M. gypseum were among the first to be discovered, the anamorphs are frequently confused with each other because of similarities of their morphologies on different versions of Sabouraud medium. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the distribution of mating types among clinical isolates of the M. gypseum complex recovered from animals for an epidemiological approach. Methods. The mating study was performed by crossing 36 animal strains of the Microsporum gypseum complex isolated from 29 animals affected by dermatomycosis and 7 asymptomatic subjects with (+) and (-) tester strains of Nannizzia (Arthroderma) gypsea, Nannizzia (Arthroderma) incurvata and Nannizzia (Arthroderma) fulva. All crosses were incubated, away from the light, for 8 weeks at 25 degrees C after which they were examined for the presence or absence of asci and acospores. Results. The perfect form was found in 33 (92 %) of the isolates. N. gypsea was most frequently recovered while N. incur vara and N. fulva were more rarely involved on animal lesions. There was a preponderance of the (-) strains with approximately a 2:1 ratio. Conclusions. This is the first report on the frequence of isolation of the different mating types of M. gypseum complex in Italy. The results should indicate that the ability to cause skin infection of animals by the M. gypseum complex is shared by both the mating types.
Mating types of the Microsporum gypseum complex isolated from animals in Italy
MANCIANTI, FRANCESCA;PAPINI, ROBERTO AMERIGO
1997-01-01
Abstract
Background and objective. Microsporum gypseum is a common saprophyte of the soil and an occasional causative agent of human and animal dermatophytoses. Even though perfect forms of species of the complex M. gypseum were among the first to be discovered, the anamorphs are frequently confused with each other because of similarities of their morphologies on different versions of Sabouraud medium. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the distribution of mating types among clinical isolates of the M. gypseum complex recovered from animals for an epidemiological approach. Methods. The mating study was performed by crossing 36 animal strains of the Microsporum gypseum complex isolated from 29 animals affected by dermatomycosis and 7 asymptomatic subjects with (+) and (-) tester strains of Nannizzia (Arthroderma) gypsea, Nannizzia (Arthroderma) incurvata and Nannizzia (Arthroderma) fulva. All crosses were incubated, away from the light, for 8 weeks at 25 degrees C after which they were examined for the presence or absence of asci and acospores. Results. The perfect form was found in 33 (92 %) of the isolates. N. gypsea was most frequently recovered while N. incur vara and N. fulva were more rarely involved on animal lesions. There was a preponderance of the (-) strains with approximately a 2:1 ratio. Conclusions. This is the first report on the frequence of isolation of the different mating types of M. gypseum complex in Italy. The results should indicate that the ability to cause skin infection of animals by the M. gypseum complex is shared by both the mating types.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
