Re-Discovery of Trichophyton Bullosum in North Africa as a Cause of Severe Dermatophytosis in Donkeys
November 2021
in “
Folia Microbiologica
”
Studysummary This study documented the first confirmed infections of Trichophyton bullosum in donkeys in Africa, indicating equines as primary hosts and highlighting the potential underestimation of this pathogen's prevalence. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This article documents the first confirmed cases of Trichophyton bullosum infection in Africa since its initial discovery in 1933, found in donkeys near Cairo, Egypt, suffering from severe dermatitis. The fungus was identified through microscopy and PCR sequencing of the ITS rDNA region. Historically, T. bullosum has been rarely reported, with few cases in humans and horses outside Africa. The study highlights the potential underestimation of T. bullosum prevalence due to its similarity with T. verrucosum and emphasizes the need for molecular methods in epidemiological studies. This research confirms equines as primary hosts and marks the first documented infections in donkeys.
