Biological and molecular genetic properties of Trichophyton benhamiae, a new pathogen of dermatomycoses in cats

Ainura M. Smagulova, Yelena Kukhar, Tatyana I. Glotova, Alexander G. Glotov

2023

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.26898/0370-8799-2023-1-7
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The results of isolation of two strains OVB_T. b-19 and OVB_T. b-20 of a new microscopic fungus species Trichophyton benhamiae from the samples of biological material from cats with clinical signs of dermatomycosis are presented.This type of fungus was isolated from domestic cats for the first time in Russia. Molecular genetic studies, species identification and determination of the properties of the isolated cultures were carried out using approved methodological recommendations and determinants of pathogenic and opportunistic fungi. The keratinolytic and biochemical activity, cultural-morphological (phenotypic) and molecular-genetic properties of T. benhamiae were studied. Both strains of the fungus were characterized by a variety of phenotypic properties: they formed colonies on the nutrient media that differed in morphology and color of aerial and substrate mycelium. They revealed the similarity of micromorphology: the presence of a septate bamboo-like mycelium with characteristic branching of two-layer macroconidia and microconidia. The studied strains were characterized by similar biochemical properties (pronounced saccharolytic and urease activities) and keratinolytic activity. The identified keratinolytic activity of the T. benhamiae strains indicates their etiological role in the development of dermatomycoses in domestic cats. The phenotypic characteristics fully corresponded to the culture of the microscopic fungus T. benhamiae. Molecular genetic studies revealed that microscopic fungi isolated from cats belonged to the genus Trichophyton, species Benhamiae. Molecular genetic studies established that the sequences of OVB_T. b-19 and OVB_T. b-20 strains that had been obtained were identical. Both strains are listed in the GenBank database with individual numbers in the international NCBI database, ON479483 and ON479484.