TOPICAL APPLICATION OF EUGENIA CARYOPHYLLUS OIL AGAINST RINGWORM INFECTION OF HUMAN BEINGS

Objective: At least one million people are suffering from dermatophytosis in India. These mycoses although normally not lethal are unpleasant, frequent disease recurrence, and resistant dermatophytic strains cause considerable economic losses. During the antifungal evaluation of essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllus, all concentrations were found to be an excellent inhibitor against selected fungi as compared to standard antifungal drugs griseofulvin, ketoconazole, and itraconazole. The present work deals with the preparation of an ointment from E. caryophyllus oil for the treatment of ringworm infection in human beings. Materials and Methods: Due to these potent fungicidal properties, an ointment of E. caryophyllus was prepared and topically applied on tinea patients attending the outpatient Department of Skin, Venereology, and Leprology, SMS Hospital, Jaipur. Patients were diagnosed as tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea manuum, and tinea barbae. The medication was done twice a day for 3 weeks as advised by the skin specialist. Results: All patients showed positive potassium hydroxide (KOH) results at the beginning of the trial. After the 2nd week of treatment, every patient was KOH negative and remained negative when re-examined after one month of treatment. All patients were completely cured within 3 weeks of the treatment. Conclusions: Ointment showed excellent results, found cheaper substitutes to cure the disease without any adverse side effect. The present study offers a high possibility of complete cure of tinea infection and suggesting its uses as raw material by pharmaceutical industries for the development of antidermatophytic drug in prevailing conditions where dermatophytes are becoming resistant against popular antifungals.

Tinea Corporis Caused by Microsporum Canis in HIV Patient Treated For Neuromeningeal Cryptococcis: Report of A Nosocomial Outbreak

We report a nosocomial outbreak of Microsporum canis during inpatient treatment for HIV newly diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis. The clinical presentation, though very typical of ringworm infection, samples were collected and examined by direct microscopy and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar, revealing Microsporum canis. It is strongly believed that outdoor cats living in the hospital spaces are the main cause of disease transmission. Measures to limit zoophilic pathogens are necessary in immunosuppressed inpatient care unit

The histopathological changes at skin of German shepherd dogs associated with ringworm infection in directorate of K9 in Al-Diwanyia province

The current study was conducted to exam the histopathological changes of skin of German shepherd dogs suffering from ringworm infection. It may be the first study on this breed of dog in the Al-Diwanyia province. Seven German shepherd dogs from directorate of K9 in Al-Diwanyia province suffering from skin lesion were used in this study. Highly contaminated fur of infected dogs was cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA). A five mm shaved biopsies of skin from all cases were taken from lesions present on shoulder region and after routine processes histological technique to evaluate the histopathological changes. The result were revealed that the colonies of Microsporum canis was flat, spreading, white to faint creamy-coloured with a dense buffy, granular to coarsely fluffy to hairy surface with radial grooves, and the histopathological exam of skin were showed presence of hyperkeratosis, spongiosis and marked dermal edema, skin bullae in the epidermal layer and accumulation of collagen fibers found of spores and hyphae of Microsporum in the stratum basale layer of epidermis and infiltration of eosinophils in the dermis layer directly beneath the basal layer of epidermis.

Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Serodiagnosis of Ringworm Infection in Cattle

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to develop an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological diagnosis of ringworm infection in cattle. We used available recombinant forms ofTrichophyton rubrumdipeptidyl peptidase V (TruDppV) andT. rubrumleucin aminopeptidase 2 (TruLap2), which are 98% identical toTrichophyton verrucosumorthologues. Field serum samples from 135 cattle with ringworm infection, as confirmed by direct microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and PCR, and from 55 cattle without any apparent skin lesions or history of ringworm infection that served as negative controls were used. Sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were determined to evaluate the diagnostic value of our ELISA. Overall, the ELISAs based on recombinant TruDppV and TruLap2 discriminated well between infected animals and healthy controls. Highly significant differences (P< 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test) were noted between optical density values obtained when sera from infected versus control cattle were tested. The ELISA developed for the detection of specific antibodies against DppV gave 89.6% sensitivity, 92.7% specificity, a 96.8% positive predictive value, and a 78.4% negative predictive value. The recombinant TruLap2-based ELISA displayed 88.1% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, a 95.9% positive predictive value, and a 75.7% negative predictive value. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ELISA based on recombinant antigens for assessing immune responses to ringworm infection in cattle; it is particularly suitable for epidemiological studies and also for the evaluation of vaccines and/or vaccination procedures.

Prevalence of pathological conditions causing skin damage and consequently reducing its market value in domestic ruminants of Punjab, Pakistan

Data regarding the prevalence of skin diseases reducing the market value of skins and hides and ultimately refined leather were not available in Pakistan. The current study was conducted in the hide/skin markets and abattoirs of Lahore and Faisalabad and tanneries of Sheikhupura, Kasur and Sialkot. The record of various skin diseases and conditions damaging the skin/hide of cattle, goat and sheep was made. Lesions, extent and type of damage were recorded. A total of 21,671 skins / hides were examined out of which 3918 of skins and 600 hides were examined at the abattoirs of Lahore and Faisalabad, 6784 Skins and 1399 hides at hide markets and 8091 skins and 879 hides at tanneries. Out of total 21,671 skins / hides, 66.12% were normal and 33.88% were having some sort of damage. The data were gathered on questionnaire sheets. The prevalence of skin diseases was assessed through Strata V.9 software program. The correlation of the disease and area was analyzed by the chi-square. The prevalence of various diseases and damages due to mal-management in sheep, goats and cattle has been discussed in detail. The damages in goat skins were significantly less as compared with cattle and sheep. However, the type of defects and severity varied amongst various ruminants studied. The most common damages observed, overall in all species studied were atrophy of skin (Thin skin) 6.38%, followed in descending order observed was lesions of wounds 4.94%, old lesions of pox 4.82%, flaying cuts 3.17%, tick infestation 3.08%, lesions caused by mites infestation 2.45%, scratches 2.33%, lesions caused by warble fly larvae 1.47%, decomposition 1.32%, charr (fibrosis) 1.28%, ringworm infection 1.10%, extensive soiling by dung 0.84%, chronic abscesses 0.46%, and Lice infestation 0.17%.