Could polymerase chain reaction be an alternative diagnostic method for dermatophytes?

Abstract

Dermatophytosis are cutaneous mycoses caused by Microsporum spp., Trichophyton spp. and Epidermophyton spp. dermatophytes. Dermatophytosis resembles other skin diseases due to its various clinical manifestations such as multifocal alopecia, circular lesions, scaling, crusting, papular and pustular lesions, follicular obstruction, erythema, hyperpigmentation, miliary dermatitis and dystrophic nail growth, and its diagnosis is based on the use of many different methods. Generally used methods; clinical appearance, microscopic examination, examination with Wood's lamp and mycological culture but these methods have some disadvantages. Microscopic examination requiring expertise, fast and cost-effective method, but in some cases, microbiologists encounter specimens that are microscopically negative but give positive results in mycological culture. Examination with Wood's lamp can only be used for the diagnosis of M. canis and its specificity is low. On the other hand mycological cultures require a long time (3-6 weeks) to give definitive results, and their sensitivity may decrease due to common contaminant growth. Considering these reasons, new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods have been developed for the diagnosis of dermatophyte agents. Compared to other molecular methods, the PCR method is easy, fast and applicable for the identification of dermatophyte species that do not show typical morphological features. Although PCR-based diagnostic methods are widely used in humans in the diagnosis of dermatophytosis, its usefulness in dogs and cats has also been confirmed. As a result, the PCR method used in the diagnosis of dermatophytosis; it is emphasized that it can be used in the diagnosis of dermatophytosis due to the ease of obtaining samples, providing faster results compared to mycological culture, and not requiring expertise, and it is emphasized that new and different methods should be used in the diagnosis of diseases. In this study, it was aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the PCR method and its applicability in clinical practice, as well as mycological culture, which is frequently used in the diagnosis of dermatophytosis.