Clinical application of PCR-RFLP for the differentiation of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei in the facial dermatitis of household African pygmy hedgehog (Erinaceus albiventris)

This report describes a case of severe and prolonged dermatophytosis in a hedgehog that was diagnosed by PCR-RFLP, a rapid and usefulness technique for identification of many causative agents and hereditary characters. A 5-month-old female hedgehog was presented with grade 2 facial pruritus, scaling, encrustation and hemorrhage. Cytology of exudates on the face showed a suspected fungal infection. A culture and tape imprint test of the cultured colony showed many hyphae and microcornidia, suspected to belong to the Trichophyton species. In the PCR-RFLP with MvaI and HinfI, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei was finally identified as a causative agent. The patient completely recovered after application of nystatin cream for 17 days.