Review: overview on bovine dermatophytosis

Dermatophytosis or known as (Ring worm) is a major contagious fungal disease affecting cattle of worldwide distribution. It invade and digested the keratinized tissues of skin and hair of host causing severe skin damage. Sever economic losses including damage or low grade type of skin besides the reduction of meat and milk production. Moreover, contagiousness of this disease due to its zoontic and public health concern to human throw direct or indirect contact with infected animals or materials. T. verrucosum considered a common fungi causing ringworm in cattle which characterized by rapidly spreading among susceptible animals. Longevity of Spores of T. verrucosum in different environmental conditions appear to be a big obstacle that prevent its eradication from the environment and difficulty of treatment. Mycological examination as well as Molecular techniques as PCR were used effectively for diagnosis the disease in suspected cases. Recently, new modern alternative methods for treatment were applied as use of some plant extract or essential oils to avoid problems and side effects of traditional antifungal therapy. This review provide update information about some important points in risk factors and new trend in control of bovine dermatophytosis.

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Introduction

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi that classified according to microconidia shape into three main genera (Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton) that affecting superficial layers of skin and hair in animals and man. Almost 40 dermatophyte species were identified (Smith and McGinnis, 2011) [35] . Only, three genera (Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton) are known to be pathogenic for human and animals (Weitzman and, Summerbell, (1995) [37] . The high prevalence of dermatophytosis recently may be attributed to intensive use of corticosteroids and poorly hygienic management for animals (Woodfolk, 2005) [38] . Dermatophytes have the ability to invade as well as borrow the skin layers of host, particularly the superficial layers that rich in keratin-content (Fernandes et al., 2001) [20] , although deep layers may be occasionally involved in some sever complicated cases. The diseased animals, infected materials and contaminated environment act as the main source and reservoir for infection among susceptible hosts throw direct or indirect contact (Murray et al., 2005) [28] . The disease appear to be more predominant in poorly closed housed animals (Al-Ani et al., 2002) [3] , particularly, in worm humid climate countries that allowed and favored spore formation and consequently highly infection (Radostits et al., 2007) [31] . Dermatophytosis mainly affected cattle especially young calves, which have high skin PH and immune system is remain less developed (Radostits et al., 1997) [30] , infection to other animals as small ruminants and human has been reported (Ming et al., 2006) [26] .

Etiology

Dermatophytes are divided into three main types according to habitat, geophilic (soil), anthrophilic (man) and zoophilic (animal). T. verrucosum belong to zoophilic type that considered the main frequently fungi responsible for ringworm in cattle (Abou-Eisha, 2008; El-Diasty et al. 2013) [1] , although T. mentagrophytes may also causing such disease in cattle and to less extend M. canis. There are difference between these species in diagnostic culturing and examination as shown in the blow table (1). Moreover, T. verrucosum can remain infective in environment for long periods (5-7) years (Mahmoudabadi and Zarrin, 2008; Singh and Kushwaha, 2010) [24,34] , thus, prevent complete eradication and control of the disease in farm animals. The pathogensis of dermatophytes begins firstly from contact between skin abrasion of host and contaminated environment or infected animal lesion containing arthrocondia, which germination occur in hair follicles then the invasion the cell wall of skin (stratum corneum) with digestion of keratin content and highly formation of hyphea and conidia (ecto or endothrix). The growing hair carrying fungal elements (ecto or endothrix) leading to rapid spreading of infection in form of ring shape lesion covered by scales and crusts that may coalescence together forming large area of alopecia. Moreover skin hyperkertosis may developed (Radostits et al. 2007) [30] . Table ( [13] and in other countries (Cam et al. 2007; Akbarmehr, 2011) [8,2] , all described the skin lesion of dermatophytosis as a circular or circumscribed plaques of alopecia (1-5 inches), which may gathered to each other forming large irregular area of gryish-whitish colour, thick scabs that usually firmly attached to the skin, particularly distributed in head, neck, face and around eyes as showed in photo (1&2). The presence of lesion on face and around eyes may act as source of new infection throw animal habit of licking and grooming. Other frequent studies supposed the higher incidence of ringworm lesions on the flank and back areas as these sites are more exposed to contamination, injuries and wetness than other body parts (Swai and Sanka, 2012) [36] . The frequency and distribution of infection influenced by host factors (age, stress, transportation and management), geographic area and climate condition (Al-Rubiay et al. 2006) [4] . The factors as species, numbers and age of animal besides environmental aspects will serves a significant role in dermatophytes infection and incidence (Nassif and Osman, 2003) [29] . Furthermore, calves of less than one year was more affected age among animals which explained that ill developed immune system not exposed to previous infection (Nassif and Osman, 2003 and Cafarchia et al. 2004) [29,7] . Regarding to the sex factor on dermatophyosis prevalence, males reported to be more affected higher than females, this could be Attributed to, program of farm fatting mainly acting only on males calves of closely contact to each other (Cafarchia et al. 2004) [7] . Adult animals of nonsymptomatic lesions appear to carry and spread the infection to young calves during early stage of their life (Singh and Kushwaha, 2010) [34] .

Photo (1): showing cow suffering from ringworm in face and around eyes

Photo 2: showed ring worm I neck region (gryish-whitish circumscribed lesion, above the skin) [11,36,8] . Examination of T. verrucosum by 20% KOH was a routine laboratory procedure was classically applied in dermatophytes suspected lesions, briefly 20% KOH (one drop ) put on a microscopic slide with 1cm of lesion(skin scraped) was added with gently heating and applied a cover slip. Then, after 2 h, examine the slide for the presence of arthrospores and hyphae (ecto and endothrix) under a light microscope according to (Ellis et al. 2007) [14] . Then, laboratory identification through isolation on Sabauroud dextrose agar (SDA) containing chloramphenicol and actidion incubated at 37°C for 3-4 weeks, followed by examination of culture characters including (texture, shape and color), pigment production and microscopical features of spores as described by (Ellis et al. 2007; Cowen, 1990) [14,10] . The main culture characters of T. verrucosum showed, very slow growing white, cottony, heaped up, button like with folded and nonpigmented reversed side colonies (Eman-abdeen, 2011; Dalis et al. 2014) [16,11] . In contrast to microscopical picture, T. verrucosum apper as septated hyphae and microconidia with presence of chlamydospores which arranged in chain as described by (Forbes et al. 2002; Shams-Gahfarokhi et al.

2009) [21,32] with characteristic shape of microcondia which give calvate to pyriform shape (Eman-abdeen, 2011; Swai and Sanka, 2012) [16,36] , or thin wall of cigar shape (Mucoma, 2000) [27] . The phenotypic characteristics of dermatophyte are influenced by environmental, nutritional and chemical factors besides time consuming in traditional method. So, molecular methods to identify dermatophytes become more likely used (Liu et al. 2000b) [23] . These techniques as PCR have been efficiently used for identification of dermatophyte species which proved to be more specific, accurate and stable than phenotypic characterization (Gräser et al. 2000) [22] . PCR able to detected species-specific DNA polymorphisms in dermatophyte species through characteristic patterns of each species (Faggi et al. 2001) [18] . As well as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), multiplex PCR and Specific nucleotide sequence are used as helpful advanced methods for detection of dermatophytes species and sub-species as well as in epidemiological parameters control (Faggi et al. 2001; Dhib et al. 2014) [18,12] .

Photo 3: T. verrcusum showing very slow growing, with heaped up, button like appearance folded white colored colony

Treatment and Control

The disease is self-limiting and spontaneous recovery usually occur in mild cases, although, some topical iodine and sulpher preparation are applied for treatment of severely affected lesions. Remove the scales and crusts before applying of ointment preparation is recommended. The systemic antifungal therapy that used for dermatophytes infection may left some residues problems or toxic effect on animals or human body (Araujo et al. 2009) [6] . The high cost of treatment, economic losses, long course of treatment and its public health importance activated more concern for development of natural plant extract of antifungal activity that effective and less toxic. Such natural plants include garlic, lemon grass, datura, acacia, a triplex, ginger, black seed, neem, basil, eucalyptus, alfalfa and basil (Aly and Bafiel, 2008) [5] . The properties of these plants should be safe, economic and easily applied under field conditions (Shelef, 1983) [33] . Extraction of a new compounds from plants have been recently used for treatment of some infectious diseases (Fardos, 2009) [19] . For example, Clove oil proved highly effective antifungal activity against Dermatophytes species in vitro and can used as a topical spray and ointment for treatment of dermatophytes in cattle and guinea-pigs as reported by (Eman-abdeen and El-Diasty, 2015 and chee and Lee et al, 2007) [17,9] respectively. A new trend for control of animal ring worm through immunization of young calves by live T. verrucosum strain which gave a good protection against ringworm as early reported by (Eman-abdeen, 2011; Mikaili et al. 2012) [16,25] .

Conclusion

This review spot high lights on bovine dermatophytosis and the main etiology as well as the descriptive clinical lesion. Also provide a considerable knowledge about the laboratory methods and advanced tools for rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis. As well as it discuss the new trend in control of this disease by compounds from medical plants.

But, more research should be investigated the interaction of these compounds and the evaluated its activity and pharmacological properties with comparing with traditional drugs.

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