PCR and real-time PCR approaches to the identification of Arthroderma otae species Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii/Microsporum ferrugineum.

OBJECTIVES: The identification of species in the Arthroderma otae complex is essential to determine the origin of infection and to eliminate the risk of transmission. Microsporum canis is a zoophilic species, whereas Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum ferrugineum are anthropophilic species. In this paper, we propose alternative methods that permit species-specific identification of both anthropophilic and zoophilic members of the A. otae complex METHODS: Two PCR assays were designed based on differences in the DNA fragment encoding ß-tubulin and were applied in both traditional and real-time PCR using DNA isolated by rapid method from culture. RESULT: The two assays presented in this study enable the identification of M. canis and M. audouinii/M. ferrugineum with 100% sensitivity and specificity by both traditional and real-time PCR. CONCLUSION: We developed a new diagnostic assay using specific primers and both traditional and real-time PCR reactions that can be applied in routine laboratory praxis as well as in epidemiological studies to detect M. canis and M. audouinii/M. ferrugineum DNA from a pure culture.