Abstract
Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that infect hair, skin, nails, and feathers, classified into seven genera within the Arthrodermataceae family. Species identification has evolved with molecular methods, leading to the adoption of the "One Fungus = One Name" system. Dermatophytes are categorized into anthropophiles, zoophiles, and geophiles, with human-to-human transmission typically involving Trichophyton species and animal-to-human infections linked to Microsporum. Accurate DNA extraction is essential for effective molecular detection, yet fungal cell walls present a significant challenge. This study evaluated three DNA extraction protocols to optimize fungal DNA isolation. Spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that Protocol 3 yielded the highest DNA concentration (93.61–2008.9 ng/µL) with optimal purity (A260/280: 1.8–2.2), whereas Protocol 1 had lower efficiency. While Protocol 2 showed variable results, it provided better purity for some hosts. These findings underscore the need for optimized extraction methods to enhance dermatophyte DNA detection in clinical and veterinary diagnostics.