• Anti-fungal Activity of Terbinafine-Loaded Lipid Nanostructures on Dermatophyte Species Isolated from Animals
  • Javad khaghani asl,1,* Aria shahabi,2 Elina sarvi,3 Yaser nasirzadeh,4 Afsaneh farajnezhad,5
    1. Department of Pathology and Mycology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
    2. Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
    3. Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
    4. Department of medical mycology laboratory, imam reza Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
    5. Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran


  • Introduction: A group of filamentous fungi known as dermatophytes are responsible for causing lesions on the skin, hair, and nails. These fungi are keratinophilic and induce lesions by secreting the enzyme keratinase, as well as through the host's immune response. The disease caused by these fungi, dermatophytosis, is zoonotic and can affect both humans and animals, causing lesions on the skin and hair. Drug resistance and the transmissibility of this disease have created complex treatment challenges for physicians. One proposed approach is the use of nanodrug carriers to improve drug delivery and treatment efficacy. The aim of this study is to develop NLC-Terbinafine with acceptable physicochemical properties and to compare its effects on dermatophyte species isolated from animal slaughterhouses.
  • Methods: Terbinafine-loaded lipid nanostructures were prepared using solvent evaporation and exhibited suitable physicochemical properties. Fungal samples from animals with dermatophytosis were collected from slaughterhouses and identified through microscopic examination with 10% KOH, followed by culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and cycloheximide (SCC). The effect of NLC-terbinafine was determined using the standard CLSI M38-A2 protocol through the broth microdilution method on dermatophyte species by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and comparing it to the MIC of terbinafine.
  • Results: Of the 30 samples collected, 21 were from sheep, 6 from goats, 2 from cattle, and 1 from a camel. Microsporum canis was isolated in 17 cases (56.66%), Trichophyton verrucosum in 6 cases (20%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex in 5 cases (16.66%), and 2 cases involved unidentified species. The MIC50 values of Terbinafine against M. canis, T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, and unidentified dermatophytes were 0.5, 0.5, 0.125, and 0.125 μM, respectively. For NLC-Terbinafine, these values were 0.125, 0.0625, 0.125, and 0.0313 μM, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images at both higher and lower magnifications revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical, with particle sizes ranging from 58.8 to 96.3 nm.
  • Conclusion: This study is part of an unpublished investigation and represents the first published report on the effects of this formulation on isolated fungal species. Specifically, the antifungal activity of NLC-terbinafine was evaluated against dermatophyte strains isolated from animals with dermatophytosis lesions in Ardabil. Consistent with previous research, zoophilic dermatophyte species were prevalent in slaughtered domestic animals, with Microsporum canis being the most frequently isolated species. The observed reduction in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for species treated with NLC-terbinafine may be attributed to the drug’s enhanced binding to the dermatophyte cell wall due to its hydrophobic nature, as well as improved penetration resulting from the nanoparticle’s small size. The results demonstrated superior antifungal efficacy of NLC-terbinafine compared to the conventional formulation across all dermatophyte isolates, suggesting its potential as an alternative in vivo treatment for dermatophytosis.
  • Keywords: Dermatophyte, NLC, Microdilution broth, Terbinafine, Drug