Infectious Differences between the Dermatophytes-Induced Dermatophytosis in Wistar Rat

Aims: This study investigates the infectious differences between the two dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) and Epidermophyton floccosum (E. floccosum), and analysed their growing effects and morphology on the skin of Wistar rats.

Study Design: The histology and histochemistry studies were investigated.

Methodology: Nine animals were used and divided into 3 equal groups. Group A was the control (not infected), group B was infected with T. rubrum and group C was infected with E. floccosum. 2 ml of washed fungal organisms were spilled on shaved, cleaned and disinfected skin of the Wistar rats with cotton swab saturated with 70% ethanol separately. The dermatophytes were allowed to incubate with noticeable changes when physically observed. Animals were sacrificed using cervical dislocation under chloroform anaesthesia, after 12 days of infection for both histological and histochemical studies.

Results: The skin of the animals were observed with the falling of furs on the skin of the Wistar rats infected with different organisms compare with the control group. The histochemical studies of melanoaldehyde (MDA), superioxide dismutase (SOD) and total protein (T.P) were carried out with T. rubrum infected group observed to have highest level of SOD that is 778.02±4.00 as against 741.01±4.00 of E. floccosum, which suggested some protecting reactions in the skin against reactive oxygen species. Also, the total protein level of the infected groups increased slightly compare to the control group. The little increase in the level of MDA was observed in E. floccosum infected group. The histological appearance in the cellular architecture and arrangement in group B compared with group C with obvious differences observed. Thus, T. rubrum infected group digested keratin more than E. floccosum-infected group, and may be as a result of serious invasion of the epidermis and its rete ridges by the fungi.

Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that, T. rubrum is more infectious in terms on its commonest and keratin digestion when compared with E. floccosum.