DNA Sequencing Accurately Diagnosed 146 Cases of Superficial Mycosis

Abstract

Objective: Traditional fungal detection methods, such as fungal microscopy and cultivation, often have drawbacks such as high false negative rates and time-consuming cultivation. Using molecular biology methods for diagnosis can not only be used for identifying fungal strains in cultured colonies, but also for diagnosing diseased tissues, which can shorten the diagnosis time. There is a lack of systematic research on the clinical characteristics, susceptibility factors, and the composition and distribution of pathogenic fungi of superficial mycosis in Shiyan area. In order to understand the relevant situation of superficial mycosis and pathogenic fungi in this area, this study conducted a molecular epidemiological investigation on 146 patients with superficial mycosis who visited our outpatient department. Methods: From January 2022 to December 2022, the typical clinical manifestations of outpatient visits in our department were collected. 146 cases of superficial fungal patients with positive fungal microscopy were cultured and DNA was extracted. PCR technology was applied to compare the products in GeneBank after the amplification of ITS region. Results: A total of 23 pathogenic strains were obtained, including 112 strains of <i>Trichophyton rubrum</i> (76.71%), 5 strains of other dermatophytes (3.42%), 6 strains of <i>Candida</i> species (4.11%), 4 strains of <i>Aspergillus</i> species (2.74%), 8 strains of <i>Cladosporium</i> species (5.48%), and 11 strains of other fungi (7.53%). Conclusions: DNA sequencing combined with traditional fungal microscopic culture is helpful for more accurate diagnosis of superficial mycosis.