Pathology

Biology

Microbiology

Ecology

Computational biology

Biotechnology

Biochemical engineering

Medicine

Identification (biology)

Dermatophyte

Engineering

Journal of Molecular Virology and Immunology

Accurate and rapid identification of the causative agent in dermatophyte infections plays a key role in patient management and planning of appropriate treatments. Direct examination, Wood's lamp, microscopy, culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), post-PCR identification methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and genetic analyzes are the basic diagnostic approaches used in the diagnosis of dermatophytes. Each of these methods has certain advantages and disadvantages, and studies on new targets are continuing to increase the sensitivity of clinical diagnosis. Although direct examination of dermatophyte lesions (dermoscopic findings) provides non-invasive and rapid results, the inadequacy of identifying the causative agent is the most important disadvantage of this approach. While the Wood's lamp is similarly a non-invasive, low-cost, and fast diagnostic method, it is a significant disadvantage that not all dermatophyte species fluoresce. In micros...

Laboratory Diagnosis of Medically Important Dermatophytes: Traditional Methods and New Developments