@article{Hameed_Riaz Ch_Nawaz_Naqvi_Gräser_Kupsch_Pasquetti_Rossi_Molinar Min_Tizzani_et al._2017, title={Trichophyton verrucosum infection in livestock in the Chitral district of Pakistan}, volume={11}, url={https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/28459224}, DOI={10.3855/jidc.7925}, abstractNote={<p class="SmallText">Introduction: <em>Trichophyton verrucosum</em> belongs to the dermatophyte fungi, closely related organisms that cause skin infections in animals and humans. <em>T. verrucosum</em> infection has been reported in livestock and people in different countries from all continents. Human cases have been reported in different areas of Pakistan, but there is little information about the animal source of the fungus.</p> <p class="SmallText">Methodology: Dermatological specimens collected in the Chitral district of Pakistan for a study on mange in livestock were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of <em>T. verrucosum</em>. In total, 5,873 animals (1,087 cows, 2,033 goats, and 2,753 sheep) were screened for evidence of dermatological lesions during two surveys performed in the summer and winter seasons. Skin scrapings collected from animals with lesions were analyzed by direct microscopic examination after digestion in sodium hydroxide and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting pathogenic <em>Trichophyton</em> species.</p> <p class="SmallText">Results: At microscopy, samples from 18 cows (1.6%), 3 sheep (0.1%), and 4 goats (0.2%) were positive for fungal elements consistent with <em>T. verrucosum</em>. PCR confirmed the microscopy results. The prevalence was lower than that reported in other countries in intensive breeding farms. Results agree with the literature regarding factors affecting <em>T. verrucosum</em> diffusion, <em>i.e.</em>, infection was more prevalent in cattle, especially in younger animals during the winter season.</p> <p class="SmallText">Conclusions: This study reports, for the first time, the presence of <em>T. verrucosum</em> in livestock in Pakistan. A better knowledge of the animal role in the spread of this fungus may allow the adoption of more efficient control measures and prophylaxis.</p>}, number={04}, journal={The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries}, author={Hameed, Khalid and Riaz Ch, Farhana and Nawaz, Muhammad Ali and Naqvi, Syed Muhammad Saqlan and Gräser, Yvonne and Kupsch, Christiane and Pasquetti, Mario and Rossi, Luca and Molinar Min, Anna Rita and Tizzani, Paolo and et al.}, year={2017}, month={Apr.}, pages={326–333} }