What is it about?
Dermatophytosis, commonly known as ringworm, is a superficial fungal skin disease and zoonosis. Pythium oligandrum is a micromycete with mycoparasitic properties that is used in agriculture to control fungal infections on plants. In order to document the process in simplified conditions in vitro, we investigated the effectiveness of P oligandrum against three pathogenic dermatophytes common in domestic animals. There was strong mycoparasitic activity of P oligandrum against Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes documented by several types of microscopy.
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Why is it important?
Our results showed that P oligandrum is an aggressive mycoparasite of M canis, T mentagrophytes and M gypseum which are important pathogens in veterinary medicine. The mycoparasitism was proven on cultures of the pathogens and with comparable results on a cat hair sample, which served as a simplified model for animal treatment. These findings are consistent with previously published studies in plants and case reports in veterinary medicine. So that in conclusion this suggests that it might be safe, cheap and efficient treatment for diseased animals.
Perspectives
Pythium oligandrum fascinates me every time I try to make some videos...I got "infected" in 2009 and never "recovered" since than. The ability of this mycoparasite has huge potential for use in veterinary and human medicine. It seems to be able to destroy many filamentous fungi, not only dermatophytes. In my opinion it could be used to treat systemic mycoses.
Dr. Martina Naceradska
Private veterinary practice
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Antifungal effects of the biological agent Pythium oligandrum observed in vitro, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, July 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1098612x16658690.
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