Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How sample processing time affects fungal cultures in cats
By Santana, Aline E et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2022·Department of Internal Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The influence of sample processing time on the performance of Microsporum canis cultures in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study involving 40 Persian cats found that the timing of processing hair and scale samples for fungal culture affects the diagnosis of a common skin infection caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. When samples were processed within 8 hours, there were higher recovery rates of the fungus, while samples processed after 48 or 72 hours showed significant contamination from other molds, making it harder to identify the infection. This suggests that quicker processing of samples can lead to more accurate diagnoses of fungal infections in cats.
People also search for: cat skin infection treatment · Microsporum canis diagnosis · fungal culture processing time in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fungal culture is widely used as a diagnostic tool for detecting dermatophytosis. However, the presence of fungal contaminants can influence the culture's performance and compromise the diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To verify whether the sample processing time can affect the performance of fungal culture for the diagnosis of Microsporum canis infection in cats. ANIMALS: Forty Persian cats. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Hair and scale samples were collected by combing the coat using a 5 × 5 cm sterile polyester carpet. The carpets were assigned randomly to four groups based on time point of processing samples after collection (i.e. used for culture on a selective agar medium for dermatophytes): Group 1: 8 h (n = 10); Group 2: 24 h (n = 10); Group 3: 48 h (n = 10); and Group 4: 72 h (n = 10). Cultures were compared regarding the degree of fungal invasion by either M. canis or nondermatophytic contaminant moulds (NDM). RESULTS: Processing samples after 24 h of storage resulted in increased isolation rates of NDM and decreased isolation rates of M. canis. Samples processed after 48 h and 72 h presented more than half of the plates with a high degree of fungal contamination (i.e. NDM occupying ≥50% of the total fungal mass). However, samples processed after 8 h and 24 h presented a lower degree (P < 0.05) of NDM plate invasion and higher recovery rates of M. canis when compared to samples processed after 48 h and 72 h. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Delayed processing time is closely associated with the overgrowth of contaminants and with lower recovery rates of M. canis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34734438/