Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii isolated from Laboratory New Zealand White rabbits and Hartley guinea pigs with dermatitis

Abstract

Dermatophytes are the most important dermatological zoonosis pathogen. Although it is well known as a transmittable disease from animal to human, control of dermatophyte is still difficult in conventionally housed animals. Laboratory New Zealand White rabbits and Hartley guinea pigs bred in conventional facility were sent to the Korea Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biology for health monitoring. Two of five rabbits and six of ten guinea-pigs had discrete, irregularly shaped and encrusted alopecia around eye, legs, mouth and thigh area. Histopathologically, epidermis showed hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and acantosis. Dermis and hair follicle were infiltrated with numerous neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes. The PAS staining demonstrated large numbers of arthrospores and branched hyphae within stratum corneum and hair follicle. Fungal culture of the skin lesions revealed characteristic fungi colony and conidia of Trichophyton mentagrophyte. For rapid identification of this fungus using molecular method, we performed ITS gene specific PCR and sequenced the products. Results of ITS gene sequencing, our isolates have very similar sequence with previous reported Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. These results suggest that our isolated fungi could be cause of these rabbits and guinea pigs dermal disease.