Effect of fluconazole and terbinafine nanoparticles on the treatment of dermatophytosis induced by Trichophyton mentagrophytes in guinea pig

Dermatophytosis induced by Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a major human and animal fungal contamination. Antifungals like terbinafine and fluconazole are widely used to treat dermatophytosis; nevertheless, the prevalence of drug resistance has increased. Hence, novel curative strategies are needed. In the present study, we compared the efficacies of conventional and nanoform of antifungals agents in guinea pig model of dermatophytosis.

Guinea pigs (n=36) were injected (the posterior dorsal portion) with Trichophyton mentagrophytes conidia. The guinea pigs were divided into 6 groups (positive control, negative control, fluconazole 0.5% treated group, nano-fluconazole treated group, terbinafine 1% treated group, and nano-terbinafine treated group), then were scored both clinically (redness and lesion intensity) and mycologically (microscopy and culture) until day 40 of inoculation. The treatment started 5 days after the inoculation and continued until day 40 of inoculation.

Assessment of the mean score of clinical lesions in groups treated with nano-drug forms of fluconazole and terbinafine on the first day of treatment showed a score of 3 (significant redness with large scaling) and for the conventional form of terbinafine and fluconazole had a score of 4 (ulcer and scar). The decrease in lesion score in nano-drug treated groups was observed between days 15 and 20 and continued until day 40. On day 40, all groups had zero scores except the positive control group.

This study indicated that nano-drugs are more suitable for the treatment of dermatophytosis and could be considered as future alternatives for the treatment of dermatophytosis.