PREVALENCE OF NON-DERMATOPHYTIC MOLDS ASSOCIATED WITH CUTANEOUS MYCOSES IN CATTLE IN ABIA AND IMO STATES, NIGERIA

SOURCE:

Faculty: Biosences
Department: Applied Microbiology And Brewing

CONTRIBUTORS:

Nwofor, C.N;
Oyeka, C.A;

ABSTRACT:

Cutaneous mycoses is a communicable disease that leads to the destruction of the superficial layer of the skin of man and animals. Dermatophytes are mostly incriminated, although studies have shown that non-dermatophytes are also capable of causing similar lesions. A total of 451 skin samples from both infected and asymptomatic animals were collected from six cattle markets in Abia and Imo States, Nigeria between January and August, 2018. Sixty soil samples and Sixty air samples were also collected from the environment for fungal analysis within the same period. These samples were analysed and identified for fungal isolates and keratinophilic isolates using cultural, hair bait method, microscopic, polymerase chain reaction methods and DNA sequencing techniques. Pathogenecity test on the isolates were carried out using albino mice. Isolates were screened for enzyme secretion using standard plate method. Antibiogram activity against the isolates were determined by oxoid disc diffusion method using four conventional drugs (ketoconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin B) for this study. Four plant leaves (Occimum grastissium, Euphorbia hirta, Mitracarpus scaber and Jatropha multifida) were screened for phytochemical compounds and antifungal activity using disc diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against the isolates using the plant extracts were also carried out using tube dilution method followed by subculturing relative samples. The data was analysed using multiple comparison and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A total of 16 non-dermatophytic molds were obtained from this study at different frequency of occurrences from the cattle skins, air and soil samples which includes Penicillum citrinum (3.0%), Aspergillusfumigatus (3.6%), Aspergillus terreus (2.7%). Aspergillus welwitschiae (13.5%), Aspergillus flavus (10.0%), Aspergillus aculeatus (9.0%), Aspergillussydowii (5.0%), Fusarium solani (3.2%), Fusarium lichenicola (17.9%), Fusarium succisae (12.0%), Fusarium oxysporum (2.0%), Curvularia kusanol (0.6%), Cladosporiumtenuissimum (4.9%), Pestalotiopsismicrospora (0.1%), Talaromyceskendrickii (0.1%) and Absidia specie (12.9%). There was a significant difference in the frequency of occurrence from soil samples within markets in Abia State at (P= 0.05). Pathogenecity studies showed that Aspergillus welwitschiae, Cladosporium tenussimum and Absidiacorymbifera were highly virulent. The highest keratinase (65mm), amylase (86mm), protease (60mm), lipase (60mm) and cellulase (86mm) activities was observed on P.microspora, A.welwitschiae, C.tenuissimum, A.welwitschiae and A.welwitschiae respectively. Amongst the conventional drugs, ketoconazole was highly effective on the isolates with inhibition zone ranging from 10–53mm. Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of active ingredients steroids(35.7-35.86), saponin (27.84 - 27.94), alkaloids (0.3502- 0.6122), tannin(0.026- 0.1606), phenol(0.0085- 0.0127), glycoside(0.232-0.744) and flavonoids(-0.310 - -6.68) mg/100g. Antifungal sensitivity test at concentration range (6.25 -200mg/ml) showed that Mitracarpus scaber and Euphorbia hirta were highly effective on the isolates at 200mg/ml while all isolates were resistant to Jatropha multifida at all concentrations. The concentration range of Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for methanolic extract of the plant leaves against the fungal isolates tested was 6.25 -200mg/ml. Statistical analysis shows that there was a significant difference in the activity of these plant herbs against the fungal isolates at (P<0.05). Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 50 - ≥200mg/ml respectively. The most significant MFC (50mg/ml) was observed in extracts of Mitracarpus scaber Statistical results shows a significant difference in activity amongst the extracts at (P < 0.05). This study highlights the antifungal potentials of some local plants present in our environment as this can also be harnessed and used in production of drugs which can be used in treatment of some of these skin infections.