PCR test in detecting dermatophyte species among a sample of tinea patients attending to Imamein Kadhimein Medical City.

Background: Dermatophytosis is a common infection caused by superficial filament fungi that affects the skin, nails, and hair. It holds global importance, especially for countrieslocated in tropical and subtropical regions. Objective : identify of dermatophytes species by Conventional PCR method using ITS1 and ITS4 primer. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted at the dermatology clinic at Imamein Kadhimein Medical City in Baghdad between 22th /January /2024 to 29 /July/2024, the specimens were obtained from all participants, and a potassium hydroxide (KOH) test, cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was utilized to for identification and identification of the dermatophyte species. Results: The age distribution reveals a mean age of 31.39 ± 16.5, with the 20–29 age group appeared more group affected with dermatophytosis counting 24.0%, where the 60-69 age group exhibits the lowest frequency at 6.9%. Residence of urban dwellers (66.6%), the students (30.6%) and housewives (29.1%) being the most impacted. where T. corporis has the highest percentage, about 33.4% of cases, followed by 16.3% of T. cruris, then T. capitis count 12.9% of cases, positively rate was in microscopic examination (KOH), 66.9% in culture 87.7%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes accounted for 22.2% of all dermatophyte cases, followed by Microsporum canis (19.8%), and Trichophyton rubrum (17.8%) and PCR test was performed on 207 samples; 88.4% of the samples were positive. Conclusion: Tinea corporis predominant type and 20-29 age group more affected group. Conclusions :Tinea corporis and tinea cruris are most common clinical types of dermatophytosis while Trichophyton mentagrophytes the most common species affect younger age group (20–29 years) with 26.6 % relapse rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]