Veterinary Mycology

Background and Aim: Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal pathogen. In biofilms, C. albicans becomes more resistant to antifungal agents because of the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM) that protects the yeast cells. This study aimed to determine the effects of hydrolase enzymes and the Bgl2 ligand on monomicrobial and polymicrobial biofilms. Materials and Methods: Biofilm induction in rats was carried out using streptomycin (25 mg/kg) and gentamicin (7.5 mg/kg) administered orally once per day for 5 days. Rats were injected subcutaneously with cortisone acetate (225 mg/kg) as an immunosuppressant on day 5. In addition, rats were orally administered C. albicans for the single microbial model and a combination of C. albicans with Escherichia coli for the polymicrobial model. Following the biofilm production, the groups were treated with glucosamine (8.57 mg/kg body weight) and Achatina fulica hydrolases (1.5 mL) orally for 2 weeks. The reduction of the biofilm...

Background and Aim: Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal pathogen. In biofilms, C. albicans becomes more resistant to antifungal agents because of the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM) that protects the yeast cells. This study aimed to determine the effects of hydrolase enzymes and the Bgl2 ligand on monomicrobial and polymicrobial biofilms. Materials and Methods: Biofilm induction in rats was carried out using streptomycin (25 mg/kg) and gentamicin (7.5 mg/kg) administered orally once per day for 5 days. Rats were injected subcutaneously with cortisone acetate (225 mg/kg) as an immunosuppressant on day 5. In addition, rats were orally administered C. albicans for the single microbial model and a combination of C. albicans with Escherichia coli for the polymicrobial model. Following the biofilm production, the groups were treated with glucosamine (8.57 mg/kg body weight) and Achatina fulica hydrolases (1.5 mL) orally for 2 weeks. The reduction of the biofilm...

A nine-month-old female Doberman Pinscher dog weighing 25 kg was presented with the complaint of generalized skin lesions and pruritus. On clinical examination alopecia, scale and crust formation and hyperkeratosis were noticed. Laboratory diagnosis revealed demodicosis with pyoderma and malasseziosis. The Demodex canis was detected in deep skin scraping and budding yeast on impression smear. Culture of skin swab revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Therapeutic management with fluralaner, enrofloxacin, Benzyl peroxide shampoo, piroctone olamine shampoo , immune boosters and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids was carried out. Animal showed uneventful recovery one month after treatment.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of aspergillosis, also known as brooder pneumonia, a fatal fungal disease significantly impacting poultry health and the industry. The primary objectives are to elucidate the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for aspergillosis in poultry. The disease is caused mainly by Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus, ubiquitous environmental fungi that produce spores capable of infecting young and immunocompromised birds through inhalation or penetration of eggshells. The study emphasizes that environmental factors such as poor ventilation, high humidity, organic matter accumulation, and mismanagement practices are critical predisposing factors facilitating fungal growth and spore dissemination, especially in hatcheries and poultry houses. The material and methods involve reviewing existing literature, analyzing clinical and postmortem findings, and evaluating diagnostic techniques such as histopathology, culture, and molecular assays. Results indicate that aspergillosis manifests predominantly as acute or chronic respiratory disease, with clinical signs including nasal discharge, dyspnea, gasping, ocular lesions, and neurological symptoms like torticollis and paralysis. Gross pathology reveals granulomatous lesions in lungs, air sacs, and other organs, often with characteristic plaques. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, lesion examination, fungal isolation, and microscopic identification. Treatment options are limited and often ineffective; antifungal agents like itraconazole and amphotericin B are used, complemented by environmental management and supportive care. Prevention remains the most effective approach, focusing on stringent sanitation, adequate ventilation, biosecurity, and control of environmental contamination to reduce spore load. The findings underscore that controlling environmental factors and early intervention are vital to mitigate outbreaks. In conclusion, integrated management encompassing hygiene, environmental control, and judicious use of antifungal agents is essential to combat aspergillosis, safeguarding poultry health, and reducing economic losses.

Aspergillosis is a common fungal respiratory disease in poultry, causing significant economic losses. This case report describes an outbreak in a commercial layer farm in Jigjiga, Ethiopia, affecting 36 of 2,500 Bovans Brown chickens at 29 weeks of age. Clinically, birds exhibited respiratory distress, emaciation, and neurological signs. Necropsy revealed yellowish-white nodules in the lungs, air sacs, and trachea. Aspergillus fumigatus was confirmed through fungal culture. Due to limited treatment options, management focused on improving farm hygiene, ventilation, and reducing overcrowding. This report emphasizes the gross pathological findings of aspergillosis and highlights the need for early diagnosis of aspergillosis in poultry.

Swab samples taken from a total of 100 dogs which were suspected about otitis externa symptoms such as ear discharge, skin rash (exanthema), flaking off, inflammation, rash and stink were mycologically examined. The swabs were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) containing 0.05% chloramphenicol and 0.05% cycloheximide, and were incubated at 37 °C for 7 days. After the incubation, isolates were evaluated by morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Thirty six out of these isolates were identified as Malessezia pachydermatis, six as Candida spp., and two of them were identified as Aspergillus spp. M. pachydermatis was isolated from 15 of 33 (42.4%) one to three years old, 10 of 30 (33.3%) four to six years old, 8 of 19 (42.1%) seven to ten years old, 1 of 8 (12.5%) ten to twelve years old and 2 of 9 (22.2%) older than twelve years old dogs. There has been no isolation occured under one year old dog. The agent was isolated 17 of 46 (36.9%) females, while 19 of 54 (35.1%) males. Crossbred animals and the terriers have the highest occurrence rates (25 and 22.2% respectively) if the percentage of M. pachydermatis isolation from a breed verses all affected dogs was evaluated. Though, German Shepherds have the highest occurrence rate (57.1%) when evaluated within the breeds. Differences according to age, gender and breed characteristics were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Kulak akıntısı, deride kızarıklık (egzantem), kabuklanma, yangı, kızarıklık ve kötü koku gibi semptomlara sahip olan otitis eksterna şüpheli toplam 100 köpekten kulak svab örneği mikolojik yönden incelendi. Svablar, %0,05 kloramfenikol ve %0,05 sikloheksimid içeren Sabouraud Dextrose Agara (SDA) ekildi ve 37 °C de 7 gün inkübe edildi. İnkübasyonun ardından, izolatlar morfolojik, fizyolojik ve biyokimyasal özelliklerine göre değerlendirildi. İzolatların 36 adeti Malassezia pachydermatis, altısı Candida spp. ve iki adeti Aspergillus spp. olarak identifiye edildi. M.pachydermatis; bir üç yaş arası 33 köpeğin on beşinde (%42,4), dört altı yaş arası 30 köpeğin onundan (%33,3), yedi on yaş arası 19 köpeğin sekizinden (%42,1), on 12 yaş arası sekiz köpeğin birinden (%12,5) ve 12 yaşından büyük dokuz köpeğin ikisinden (%22,2) izole edildi. Bir yaş altında olan tek köpekte üreme olmadı. Etken, 46 dişi köpeğin 17'sinden (%36,9) ve 54 erkek köpeğin 19'undan (%35,1) izole edildi. Karışık köpek ırkları ve terrierler (%25 ve 22,2), M. pachydermatis izolasyonu incelenen bütün hayvanlar ile karşılaştırılırsa en yüksek orana sahipti. Bununla birlikte, ırklar içinde değerlendirildiğinde German Shepherd köpeklerin (%57,1) en yüksek izolasyon oranına sahip olduğu belirlendi. Yaş, cinsiyet ve ırk özelliklerine göre farklılıklar istatistiki olarak önemsiz bulundu (P>0,05). Sonuç olarak, köpeklerden yüksek oranda M. pachydermatis izolasyonunun otitis eksterna infeksiyonlarında önemli role sahip olduğunu düşündürmektedir.

A 2-year-old parrot was presented with a feather picking habit for the last 8 days. Skin scraping revealed fungal infection and further confirmation was done through sequencing the ITS gene of rRNA region. Antifungal susceptibility testing with six commonly used antifungals revealed resistance against fluconazole. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of fluconazole resistant Alternaria alternata infection from Indian parrot.

Dermatophytes are responsible for a majority of superficial fungal infections. They are distinctive from other pathogenic fungi in their ability to use keratin as living. They can sustain in different ecosystems that added in their morphological and ecological range with high flexibility to changing environmental conditions. Lately, Microsporum canis has evolved as a resistant pathogen against several antifungals and has been in the focus of interest for causing outbreaks and epidemics in humans from domestic animals. The increasing evolution of resistance, therapeutic failures, and reduced number of available drugs stimulated to investigate therapeutic alternatives by using some commonly available plants empirically used for their antifungal properties. Likewise, the present study reports the in vitro antifungal efficacy of crude as well as fractionalized extracts with different solvents of Ficus racemosa leaves (L.), Cassia fistula L. and Nerium oleander L. Antifungal activity was evaluated according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC's) values on a clinical isolate of M. canis that showed resistance to some commonly used antifungals. All crude phyto-extracts except Nerium oleander L. effectively inhibited the growth of M. canis. The methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa L. and Cassia fistula L. completely inhibited the fungal growth at a concentration of 2 µg/mL and 8 µg/mL respectively. These two phyto-extracts proved to have significant antifungal activity against common antifungal resistant M. canis isolate. Further studies with the identified plant parts through in vivo studies and pinpoint isolation of the active compound may prove beneficial as an effective alternative therapy for the pathogen.

Background and Aim: Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogen causing aspergillosis in poultry. This research aimed to evaluate the clinical and pathological features of aspergillosis infection in broilers. Materials and Methods: A. fumigatus infection was induced experimentally by intra-air sac inoculation of a 1.7×108 spore suspension into broilers. Infected and non-infected birds were closely observed for the development of clinical signs of infection twice daily. Pathological samples were collected 5, 14, and 30 days post-infection (dpi) and examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: A total of 160 birds were included in this study. Clinical signs emerged at 3 dpi and became consistent at 5 dpi. A considerable decrease in severity and number of birds showing infection symptoms followed. The clinical signs of aspergillosis included anorexia (n=40; 50%), lethargy (n=32; 40%), dyspnea (n=38; 48%), and gasping (n=29; 36%). Macroscopic changes in the air sacs at 3 dpi incl...

Background and Aim: Catnip essential oils have antimicrobial effects against bacteria, yeast, and fungi; however, there is limited information regarding their antimicrobial activity against pathogens that cause canine skin infections. This study aimed to identify the phytochemical constituents of catnip essential oil and assay its antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Malassezia pachydermatis, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum gallinae, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Materials and Methods: Catnip essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and its chemical constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In vitro antimicrobial activity was investigated using broth microdilution and time-kill tests. To evaluate the effect of catnip essential oil on microbial morphology and cell membrane integrity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and leakage studies were conducted.

Results: GC–MS analysis revealed that the principal components of catnip essential oil were cis- and trans-nepetalactone (57.09% of peak area), trans-, cis-nepetalactone (39.69% of peak area), trans-caryophyllene (1.88% of peak area), and caryophyllene oxide (1.34% of peak area). The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration values determined by broth microdilution ranged from 0.0625 mg/mL to 4.0 mg/ mL. Time-kill testing showed that the germicidal effects of catnip essential oil were time and concentration-dependent, respectively. Environmental SEM and cell leakage analysis indicated that catnip essential oil disrupted the integrity of cell membranes in the tested microorganisms.

Conclusion: Catnip essential oil has potential as an alternative antimicrobial against a wide range of canine skin infection pathogens, including S. pseudintermedius, M. pachydermatis, Mi. canis, Mi. gypseum, Mi. gallinae, and T. mentagrophytes.

Keywords: antimicrobial activity, canine dermatitis, catnip, Nepeta cataria.

This study used to be conducted in the Graduate Studies Laboratory at the College of Science, Kirkuk University in Iraq from 11/7/2021 to 25/5/2022 with the aim of investigating the fungi causing motive pores and skin ailments, i.e., dermatomycosis in the human physique (tinea corporis) and the incidence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. A total of 120 samples were collected from sufferers referred to the Dermatology Consultant at Azadi Teaching Hospital and some non-public clinics in Kirkuk, age groups ranging from 1 to 60 years and both genders. All samples were examined and recognized using traditional methods and using culture media for the fungi. The direct microscopic examination of the fungi showed positive results, with an infection rate of 66.66%, while the laboratory culture showed positive results, with 49.16%. The results of the phenotypic examinations of the isolated dermatophytes showed that they belong to the two genera, Trichophyton and Microsporum. The results showed that Trichophyton was the most diagnosed specimen compared to Microsporum. The least patient specimen was diagnosed, and 5 species of Trichophyton were isolated, T. mentagrophytes exhibited the highest prevalence (9.2%), while the lowest belonged to T. interdigitale (2.5%). In the case of Microsporum, two species were isolated, so that, the infection rate of males (33.33%) was higher than that of females (15.83%). The result showed the highest infection rate of T. mentagrophytes in the age group 21-30 years, while the lowest among the group 50-61. After final identification of T. mentagrophytes by PCR, the consequences of the PCR assay were sent to the Genebank website to verify the kind of fungus through comparing it with the fungi registered at this site.

Introduction: Boric acid is a low-toxicity, non-volatile mineral with is antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It is used as a wettable powder, liquid (applied as a spray or aerosol), emulsifiable concentrate, granules, powders, dusts, pellets, tablets, paste, bait or crystalline rods, depending upon the circumstances and target. In light of this information, the present study is aimed to compare bacterial and fungal mounts with both lactophenol cotton blue (LCB) and Boric acid-methylene blue-glycerol (BMG) i.e., effectivity of boric acid as mounting agent since it is a disinfectant, antiseptic, preservative and suppresses conidiogenesis in fungi. Material and methods:This mounting agent of boric acid was compared with lactophenol cotton blue commercial solution. Results: BMG was found to be equally effective in comparison with LCB. Discussion: BMG can be a cheaper alternative to LCB for observing colonies from Saboraud's dextrose agar.

Introduction: Boric acid is a low-toxicity, non-volatile mineral with is antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It is used as a wettable powder, liquid (applied as a spray or aerosol), emulsifiable concentrate, granules, powders, dusts, pellets, tablets, paste, bait or crystalline rods, depending upon the circumstances and target. In light of this information, the present study is aimed to compare bacterial and fungal mounts with both lactophenol cotton blue (LCB) and Boric acid-methylene blue-glycerol (BMG) i.e., effectivity of boric acid as mounting agent since it is a disinfectant, antiseptic, preservative and suppresses conidiogenesis in fungi. Material and methods:This mounting agent of boric acid was compared with lactophenol cotton blue commercial solution. Results: BMG was found to be equally effective in comparison with LCB. Discussion: BMG can be a cheaper alternative to LCB for observing colonies from Saboraud's dextrose agar.

Background and Aim: The virulence and antifungal resistance of Candida albicans are recently known for their ability to form biofilm. This research aimed to construct an in vivo model of C. albicans biofilm in Wistar rats' intestinal mucosa and study their mobilization while in a planktonic and biofilm formation. In this study, there was one treatment group that was treated with three antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and C. albicans. Materials and Methods: This study was divided into control and treatment groups. The data sampling was conducted after C. albicans inoculation. The C. albicans biofilm formation stage was monitored with colony-forming units method calculation every week post-inoculation and then observed by the confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: The planktonic C. albicans overgrowth occurred up to 14 days after inoculation. The formation and maturation of C. albicans biofilm in the intestinal mucosa started in the 28th and 35th-day post-inoculation, respec...

Partial fragment of D-loop region extending from 35 to 770 were compared with corresponding sequences of 16 wild pigs and 9 domestic pig breeds from different parts of the world for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the region. The paper also reappraises SNP markers from two fragments of cytochrome b gene and a fragment 12S rRNA gene distinguishing the Indian wild pig from other pig species of the world. Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 14 and 12 tissue samples of Indian wild and domestic pigs, respectively, collected from Central India for characterization of the D-loop DNA sequences using universal primers. The sequences obtained were aligned along with the retrieved sequences to analyze species-specific SNP marker. Results: A total of 58 mitochondrial D-loop gene sequences of pig races were aligned to identify 1349 polymorphic sites in the fragment from nucleotide positions 35-770 bp and four SNP markers were identified to differentiate Indian wild pig from all the sequences investigated in this study. With the inclusion of cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA gene fragments, the present study contributes to the total 15 SNP markers, which have been identified in the mitochondrial fragment of 1936 bp for identification of Indian wild pig. Conclusion: SNP markers have advantages over other marker types and do not require subsequent standardization to compare data across studies or laboratories.

Une enquête a été menée au Soudan oriental pour étudier la teigne du chameau. La maladie a été diagnostiquée dans 217 cas sur 498 examens de jeunes chamelons de moins de 2 ans suivis pendant une année entière. L’incidence maximale de la maladie a été observée en automne et en hiver. Celle-ci est plus fréquente chez les animaux de 1 à 2 ans en cours de croissance que chez les animaux plus âgés, mais la prévalence est semblable entre les mâles et les femelles. Les lésions ont été principalement observées sur la tête, le cou et les épaules avec une extension fréquente sur les flancs et les membres. Trichophyton verrucosum a été isolé en culture pure pour la première fois comme agent causal de la teigne du chameau au Soudan. Les auteurs décrivent les aspects histopathologiques de la maladie naturelle et discutent de son épidémiologie au Soudan oriental.

Background and Aim: Dermatophytosis is a zoonotic infection of the hair, skin, or nails in animals and humans caused by dermatophytes fungi. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dermatophytosis and its associated factors in cats, dogs, and humans in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Materials and Methods: Skin scraping samples were taken from cats, dogs, and humans with or without skin lesions. In total, 271 samples were collected; 133 from cats, 94 from dogs, and 44 from humans. The collected samples were cultured on dermatophyte test media for fungal isolation and molecular identification. Results: The prevalence of the disease was 44.36%, 40.43%, and 65.91% in cats, dogs, and humans, respectively. Microsporum canis, the most frequently isolated dermatophyte, occurred in 94.92% of cats, 92.11% of dogs, and 100.0% of humans whereas, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was only isolated from 5.08% of cats to 7.89% of dogs. Animals and humans at younger ages were more susceptible to th...

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of direct microscopic techniques and culture media for detecting fungal isolates in hair specimens.Study Design:  Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2021 to June 2021.Materials and Methods:  A total of 207 hair specimens were collected from the patients with superficial mycoses of the scalp. The specimens were collected under aseptic techniques using clean glass slides and forceps which were processed for Potassium hydroxide mount and Calcofluor white staining. The mycological cultures were performed on a Dermatophyte test medium and Sabouraud Dextrose agar with and without antibiotics. The data was recorded and analyzed on SPSS version 21. The frequencies, percentages, means, and ratios were calculated using Descriptive statistics. The association between variables were analyzed by the Chi-squar...

Partial fragment of D-loop region extending from 35 to 770 were compared with corresponding sequences of 16 wild pigs and 9 domestic pig breeds from different parts of the world for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the region. The paper also reappraises SNP markers from two fragments of cytochrome b gene and a fragment 12S rRNA gene distinguishing the Indian wild pig from other pig species of the world. Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 14 and 12 tissue samples of Indian wild and domestic pigs, respectively, collected from Central India for characterization of the D-loop DNA sequences using universal primers. The sequences obtained were aligned along with the retrieved sequences to analyze species-specific SNP marker. Results: A total of 58 mitochondrial D-loop gene sequences of pig races were aligned to identify 1349 polymorphic sites in the fragment from nucleotide positions 35-770 bp and four SNP markers were identified to differentiate Indian wild pig from all the sequences investigated in this study. With the inclusion of cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA gene fragments, the present study contributes to the total 15 SNP markers, which have been identified in the mitochondrial fragment of 1936 bp for identification of Indian wild pig. Conclusion: SNP markers have advantages over other marker types and do not require subsequent standardization to compare data across studies or laboratories.

Candida albicans is an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen which causes urogenital infections in animals and humans. There is very limited data about the antifungal resistance and virulence activity of hemolysin from companion animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility and hemolytic activity of C. albicans isolates from urine of dog and cat which shared a common household. Standard mycological technique was used for isolating and identifying the yeast. Sequencing with Internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal RNA revealed more than 99% similarity between the isolates. Antifungal resistance was seen for Fluconazole, Amphotericin-B and Itraconazole for both the isolates. Both the isolates showed high susceptibility to Micafungin, Voriconazole, Anidulafungin and Caspofungin and presented moderate hemolysin activity. The pathogen being zoonotic can cause a significant public health concern, thus care should be taken in avoidi...

Partial fragment of D-loop region extending from 35 to 770 were compared with corresponding sequences of 16 wild pigs and 9 domestic pig breeds from different parts of the world for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the region. The paper also reappraises SNP markers from two fragments of cytochrome b gene and a fragment 12S rRNA gene distinguishing the Indian wild pig from other pig species of the world. Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 14 and 12 tissue samples of Indian wild and domestic pigs, respectively, collected from Central India for characterization of the D-loop DNA sequences using universal primers. The sequences obtained were aligned along with the retrieved sequences to analyze species-specific SNP marker. Results: A total of 58 mitochondrial D-loop gene sequences of pig races were aligned to identify 1349 polymorphic sites in the fragment from nucleotide positions 35-770 bp and four SNP markers were identified to differentiate Indian wild pig from all the sequences investigated in this study. With the inclusion of cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA gene fragments, the present study contributes to the total 15 SNP markers, which have been identified in the mitochondrial fragment of 1936 bp for identification of Indian wild pig. Conclusion: SNP markers have advantages over other marker types and do not require subsequent standardization to compare data across studies or laboratories.

Background and Aim: Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal pathogen. In biofilms, C. albicans becomes more resistant to antifungal agents because of the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM) that protects the yeast cells. This study aimed to determine the effects of hydrolase enzymes and the Bgl2 ligand on monomicrobial and polymicrobial biofilms. Materials and Methods: Biofilm induction in rats was carried out using streptomycin (25 mg/kg) and gentamicin (7.5 mg/kg) administered orally once per day for 5 days. Rats were injected subcutaneously with cortisone acetate (225 mg/kg) as an immunosuppressant on day 5. In addition, rats were orally administered C. albicans for the single microbial model and a combination of C. albicans with Escherichia coli for the polymicrobial model. Following the biofilm production, the groups were treated with glucosamine (8.57 mg/kg body weight) and Achatina fulica hydrolases (1.5 mL) orally for 2 weeks. The reduction of the biofilm...

Background and Aim: The virulence and antifungal resistance of Candida albicans are recently known for their ability to form biofilm. This research aimed to construct an in vivo model of C. albicans biofilm in Wistar rats' intestinal mucosa and study their mobilization while in a planktonic and biofilm formation. In this study, there was one treatment group that was treated with three antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and C. albicans. Materials and Methods: This study was divided into control and treatment groups. The data sampling was conducted after C. albicans inoculation. The C. albicans biofilm formation stage was monitored with colony-forming units method calculation every week post-inoculation and then observed by the confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: The planktonic C. albicans overgrowth occurred up to 14 days after inoculation. The formation and maturation of C. albicans biofilm in the intestinal mucosa started in the 28th and 35th-day post-inoculation, respec...

Background and Aim: Dermatophytosis is a zoonotic infection of the hair, skin, or nails in animals and humans caused by dermatophytes fungi. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dermatophytosis and its associated factors in cats, dogs, and humans in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Materials and Methods: Skin scraping samples were taken from cats, dogs, and humans with or without skin lesions. In total, 271 samples were collected; 133 from cats, 94 from dogs, and 44 from humans. The collected samples were cultured on dermatophyte test media for fungal isolation and molecular identification.

Results: The prevalence of the disease was 44.36%, 40.43%, and 65.91% in cats, dogs, and humans, respectively. Microsporum canis, the most frequently isolated dermatophyte, occurred in 94.92% of cats, 92.11% of dogs, and 100.0% of humans whereas, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was only isolated from 5.08% of cats to 7.89% of dogs. Animals and humans at younger ages were more susceptible to the infection. Males were more susceptible than females among animals, while the reverse was true in humans. Housed cats were at higher risk of dermatophytosis than outdoor-reared cats, whereas outdoor-reared dogs were at higher risk of dermatophytosis than indoor-reared dogs. The affected skin in animals and humans is significantly associated with higher prevalence rates of the disease. Contact with infected cats and dogs was associated with increased infection rates in humans. Patients with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were found to be at higher risk of dermatophytosis than those with no history of COVID-19.

Conclusion: Awareness should be raised among people about the zoonotic aspect of the disease, especially among those with COVID-19, to avoid contact with cats and dogs, who are at risk of the disease.

Canine demodicosis caused by ectoparasitic mites of the genus Demodex is a major and common ectoparasitic disease of dogs. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Demodex infection in pet dogs. During the period under study from September 2018 to February 2019, a total of 774 dogs were presented at Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Out of these 774 dogs, 240 (31%) dogs were having dermatological problem in which 25 dogs were positive for demodicosis (10.42%). Out of these 25 dogs, 19 were affected with generalized demodicosis (76% of demodicosis/ 7.91% of total dermatological cases) and 6 were affected with localized demodicosis (24% of demodicosis/ 2.5% of total dermatological cases). The prevalence in female dogs (68%) was higher than that in male dogs (32%). In the present study, the highest prevalence of canine demodicosis was recorded in dogs aged up to 2 years (72%) followed by 12% in 2 to 4 years and 16% in >4 years dogs. Out of 25 dogs breed-wise prevalence of canine demodicosis in the present study was found to be higher in Pug 12(48%), followed by mongrel 6(24%), Labrador 4(16%), German shepherd 2(8%), Dachshund 1(4%).

Background and Aim: Canine demodicosis is a skin disease that is a major global health problem in dogs. Ivermectin is a drug of choice for treatment, but it may cause toxicity in dogs carrying multidrug resistance mutation-1 gene mutations. Hence, alternative herbal medicines are used instead of the drug, such as Dipterocarpus alatus oil (YN oil), Rhinacanthus nasutus leaf (WC), and Garcinia mangostana pericarps (MG) extracts. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of D. alatus oil, R. nasutus leaf, and G. mangostana pericarp extracts on canine demodicosis in vivo. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five mixed-breed dogs with localized demodicosis were examined. Dogs were diagnosed with demodicosis through deep skin scraping and screened with the inclusion criteria. Five dogs of each group were treated in five treatment groups (ivermectin, YN oil, YN oil+WC, YN oil+MG, and YN oil+WC+MG) for 1 month. The individual dogs were clinically evaluated, and the dermatological lesions were mo...

Candida albicans is an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen which causes urogenital infections in animals and humans. There is very limited data about the antifungal resistance and virulence activity of hemolysin from companion animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility and hemolytic activity of C. albicans isolates from urine of dog and cat which shared a common household. Standard mycological technique was used for isolating and identifying the yeast. Sequencing with Internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal RNA revealed more than 99% similarity between the isolates. Antifungal resistance was seen for Fluconazole, Amphotericin-B and Itraconazole for both the isolates. Both the isolates showed high susceptibility to Micafungin, Voriconazole, Anidulafungin and Caspofungin and presented moderate hemolysin activity. The pathogen being zoonotic can cause a significant public health concern, thus care should be taken in avoidi...

Partial fragment of D-loop region extending from 35 to 770 were compared with corresponding sequences of 16 wild pigs and 9 domestic pig breeds from different parts of the world for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the region. The paper also reappraises SNP markers from two fragments of cytochrome b gene and a fragment 12S rRNA gene distinguishing the Indian wild pig from other pig species of the world. Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 14 and 12 tissue samples of Indian wild and domestic pigs, respectively, collected from Central India for characterization of the D-loop DNA sequences using universal primers. The sequences obtained were aligned along with the retrieved sequences to analyze species-specific SNP marker. Results: A total of 58 mitochondrial D-loop gene sequences of pig races were aligned to identify 1349 polymorphic sites in the fragment from nucleotide positions 35-770 bp and four SNP markers were identified to differentiate Indian wild pig from all the sequences investigated in this study. With the inclusion of cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA gene fragments, the present study contributes to the total 15 SNP markers, which have been identified in the mitochondrial fragment of 1936 bp for identification of Indian wild pig. Conclusion: SNP markers have advantages over other marker types and do not require subsequent standardization to compare data across studies or laboratories.

Partial fragment of D-loop region extending from 35 to 770 were compared with corresponding sequences of 16 wild pigs and 9 domestic pig breeds from different parts of the world for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the region. The paper also reappraises SNP markers from two fragments of cytochrome b gene and a fragment 12S rRNA gene distinguishing the Indian wild pig from other pig species of the world. Materials and Methods: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 14 and 12 tissue samples of Indian wild and domestic pigs, respectively, collected from Central India for characterization of the D-loop DNA sequences using universal primers. The sequences obtained were aligned along with the retrieved sequences to analyze species-specific SNP marker. Results: A total of 58 mitochondrial D-loop gene sequences of pig races were aligned to identify 1349 polymorphic sites in the fragment from nucleotide positions 35-770 bp and four SNP markers were identified to differentiate Indian wild pig from all the sequences investigated in this study. With the inclusion of cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA gene fragments, the present study contributes to the total 15 SNP markers, which have been identified in the mitochondrial fragment of 1936 bp for identification of Indian wild pig. Conclusion: SNP markers have advantages over other marker types and do not require subsequent standardization to compare data across studies or laboratories.

Background and Aim: Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a heterogeneous group of oncoviruses, distributed globally, which produce major economic losses. In the current study, we compared the results of different diagnostic approaches and compared the strains identified in this study with previously characterized strains at local and international levels. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin warts were collected from five bovines with generalized papillomatosis from two Egyptian provinces, Menya and Ismailia, in 2020. Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination were performed. Results: BPV was detected using electron microscopy in the collected samples. Using molecular characterization, BPV-2 was successfully identified for 1st time in Egypt. The strain has 99.6% identity with the BPV-2 reference strains obtained from GenBank. These results were supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination. Partial nucleo...

Background and Aim: Canine demodicosis is a skin disease that is a major global health problem in dogs. Ivermectin is a drug of choice for treatment, but it may cause toxicity in dogs carrying multidrug resistance mutation-1 gene mutations. Hence, alternative herbal medicines are used instead of the drug, such as Dipterocarpus alatus oil (YN oil), Rhinacanthus nasutus leaf (WC), and Garcinia mangostana pericarps (MG) extracts. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of D. alatus oil, R. nasutus leaf, and G. mangostana pericarp extracts on canine demodicosis in vivo. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five mixed-breed dogs with localized demodicosis were examined. Dogs were diagnosed with demodicosis through deep skin scraping and screened with the inclusion criteria. Five dogs of each group were treated in five treatment groups (ivermectin, YN oil, YN oil+WC, YN oil+MG, and YN oil+WC+MG) for 1 month. The individual dogs were clinically evaluated, and the dermatological lesions were mo...

Background and Aim: Dermatophytosis is an infection of the superficial, keratinized structures of the skin, nails, and hair of man and animals caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes in the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. The prevalence of dermatophytosis among cattle in Nigeria and Plateau State, in particular, is yet to be fully determined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the distribution of dermatophytosis lesions on cattle in Plateau State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and thirty-seven cattle showing visible skin lesions suggestive of dermatophytosis were drawn from nine local government areas (three each) from the three senatorial districts of Plateau State, Nigeria. Skin scrapings were aseptically collected using a cross-sectional study, in which sampling units were selected using purposive sampling method. Samples were processed for both direct microscopic examination and isolation of dermatophytes in culture. The...

Background and Aim: Clinical strains of microorganisms, including pathogenic yeast-like fungi (YLF), are resistant to currently used antifungal agents. Thus, it is relevant to study the combinations of existing antimicrobial drugs and a medicinal extract of plant origin (farnesol). In previous studies, farnesol showed a relatively strong anti-biofilm effect against Candida albicans. This study aimed to determine how much the resistance profile of non-biofilm microorganisms can change. Materials and Methods: Six clinical isolates of C. albicans and one reference strain were used to study the interaction of farnesol with the most used antimycotics. To determine the sensitivity of YLF to antimycotic drugs, such as nystatin (50 μg), amphotericin B (10 μg), ketoconazole (10 μg), clotrimazole (10 μg), voriconazole (10 μg), fluconazole (25 μg), miconazole (10 μg), and intraconazole (10 μg), the classic disk diffusion method was used. In the second stage, one of the six strains was used to ...

Background and Aim: Dermatophytosis is an infection of the superficial, keratinized structures of the skin, nails, and hair of man and animals caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes in the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. The prevalence of dermatophytosis among cattle in Nigeria and Plateau State, in particular, is yet to be fully determined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the distribution of dermatophytosis lesions on cattle in Plateau State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and thirty-seven cattle showing visible skin lesions suggestive of dermatophytosis were drawn from nine local government areas (three each) from the three senatorial districts of Plateau State, Nigeria. Skin scrapings were aseptically collected using a cross-sectional study, in which sampling units were selected using purposive sampling method. Samples were processed for both direct microscopic examination and isolation of dermatophytes in culture. The...

Candida albicans is an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen which causes urogenital infections in animals and humans. There is very limited data about the antifungal resistance and virulence activity of hemolysin from companion animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility and hemolytic activity of C. albicans isolates from urine of dog and cat which shared a common household. Standard mycological technique was used for isolating and identifying the yeast. Sequencing with Internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal RNA revealed more than 99% similarity between the isolates. Antifungal resistance was seen for Fluconazole, Amphotericin-B and Itraconazole for both the isolates. Both the isolates showed high susceptibility to Micafungin, Voriconazole, Anidulafungin and Caspofungin and presented moderate hemolysin activity. The pathogen being zoonotic can cause a significant public health concern, thus care should be taken in avoidi...

Background and Aim: Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a heterogeneous group of oncoviruses, distributed globally, which produce major economic losses. In the current study, we compared the results of different diagnostic approaches and compared the strains identified in this study with previously characterized strains at local and international levels. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin warts were collected from five bovines with generalized papillomatosis from two Egyptian provinces, Menya and Ismailia, in 2020. Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination were performed. Results: BPV was detected using electron microscopy in the collected samples. Using molecular characterization, BPV-2 was successfully identified for 1st time in Egypt. The strain has 99.6% identity with the BPV-2 reference strains obtained from GenBank. These results were supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination. Partial nucleo...

Background and Aim: Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a heterogeneous group of oncoviruses, distributed globally, which produce major economic losses. In the current study, we compared the results of different diagnostic approaches and compared the strains identified in this study with previously characterized strains at local and international levels. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin warts were collected from five bovines with generalized papillomatosis from two Egyptian provinces, Menya and Ismailia, in 2020. Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination were performed. Results: BPV was detected using electron microscopy in the collected samples. Using molecular characterization, BPV-2 was successfully identified for 1st time in Egypt. The strain has 99.6% identity with the BPV-2 reference strains obtained from GenBank. These results were supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination. Partial nucleo...

In this study, the performance of conventional methods, Calcofluor-white, and Real-time PCR methods were compared to establish an effective method for screening dermatomycosis. Our results showed excellent agreement between direct examination with Calcofluor-white (kappa = 0.97) and real-time PCR (kappa = 0.89) in 307 clinical samples.

Background and Aim: Clinical strains of microorganisms, including pathogenic yeast-like fungi (YLF), are resistant to currently used antifungal agents. Thus, it is relevant to study the combinations of existing antimicrobial drugs and a medicinal extract of plant origin (farnesol). In previous studies, farnesol showed a relatively strong anti-biofilm effect against Candida albicans. This study aimed to determine how much the resistance profile of non-biofilm microorganisms can change. Materials and Methods: Six clinical isolates of C. albicans and one reference strain were used to study the interaction of farnesol with the most used antimycotics. To determine the sensitivity of YLF to antimycotic drugs, such as nystatin (50 μg), amphotericin B (10 μg), ketoconazole (10 μg), clotrimazole (10 μg), voriconazole (10 μg), fluconazole (25 μg), miconazole (10 μg), and intraconazole (10 μg), the classic disk diffusion method was used. In the second stage, one of the six strains was used to ...

Background and Aim: Clinical strains of microorganisms, including pathogenic yeast-like fungi (YLF), are resistant to currently used antifungal agents. Thus, it is relevant to study the combinations of existing antimicrobial drugs and a medicinal extract of plant origin (farnesol). In previous studies, farnesol showed a relatively strong anti-biofilm effect against Candida albicans. This study aimed to determine how much the resistance profile of non-biofilm microorganisms can change. Materials and Methods: Six clinical isolates of C. albicans and one reference strain were used to study the interaction of farnesol with the most used antimycotics. To determine the sensitivity of YLF to antimycotic drugs, such as nystatin (50 μg), amphotericin B (10 μg), ketoconazole (10 μg), clotrimazole (10 μg), voriconazole (10 μg), fluconazole (25 μg), miconazole (10 μg), and intraconazole (10 μg), the classic disk diffusion method was used. In the second stage, one of the six strains was used to ...

Myrothecium verrucaria is a species of fungus in the order Hypocreales. A plant pathogen, it is common throughout the world, often found on materials such as paper, textiles, canvas and cotton. It is a highly potent cellulose decomposer. It has been noticed in red dried chili It has been formulated into a bio pesticide for control of nematodes and weeds. The pesticide's active ingredient is a mixture of the killed fungus, M. verrucaria, and the liquid in which the fungus was grown. The dead fungus kills specific parasitic microscopic pests called nematodes, which attack plants, usually through their roots. The active ingredient is specific, being effective only against nematodes that parasitize plants; it does not harm free-living nematodes. Because the mixture may be toxic to aquatic organisms, it is not approved for use in or near bodies of water. No harmful effects to humans are expected as long as applicators protect their eyes and skin from contact with pesticide products that contain this active ingredient. Since 1998, the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has experimented with using M. Verrucaria as a biologically based herbicide against kudzu vines. A spray based on M. verrucaria works under a variety of conditions (including the absence of dew), causes minimal injury to many of the other woody plants in kudzu-infested habitats, and takes effect fast enough that kudzu treated with it in the morning starts showing evidence of damage by mid-afternoon. Initial formulations of the herbicide produced toxic levels of Trichothescene as a by-product, though the ARS discovered that growing M. verrucaria in a fermenter on a liquid instead of a solid diet limited or eliminated the problem. Myrothecium roridum and M. verrucaria are two plant pathogenic species causing foliar spots in a large number of cultivated plants. This paper aims to study the causal agents of foliar spots in vegetable crops (sweet pepper, tomato and cucumber), ornamental plants (Spathiphyllum wallisii, Solidago Canadensis, Anthurium andreanum, Dieffenbachia amoena) and a solanaceous weed plant (Nicandra physaloides). Most of the isolates were identified as M. roridum; only the isolate 'Myr-02' from S. canadensis was identified as M. verrucaria. All the isolates were pathogenic to their original plant hosts and also to some other plants. Some fungicides were tested in vitro against an isolate of M. roridum and the mycelial growth recorded after seven days. Fungicides with quaternary ammonium, tebuconazole and copper were highly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of M. roridum. This paper confirms the record of M. roridum causing moulds in the red chilli.

Background and Aim: The virulence and antifungal resistance of Candida albicans are recently known for their ability to form biofilm. This research aimed to construct an in vivo model of C. albicans biofilm in Wistar rats' intestinal mucosa and study their mobilization while in a planktonic and biofilm formation. In this study, there was one treatment group that was treated with three antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and C. albicans. Materials and Methods: This study was divided into control and treatment groups. The data sampling was conducted after C. albicans inoculation. The C. albicans biofilm formation stage was monitored with colony-forming units method calculation every week post-inoculation and then observed by the confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: The planktonic C. albicans overgrowth occurred up to 14 days after inoculation. The formation and maturation of C. albicans biofilm in the intestinal mucosa started in the 28th and 35th-day post-inoculation, respec...