Pathogenic potential of rare opportunistic skin mycoses agents isolated from animals in Kazakhstan

Main Article Content

Yelena Kukhar

S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan

kucharev@mail.ru

Gulshat Bailina

S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan

gulshat_010@mail.ru

Tatyana Glotova

Siberian Federal Scientific Center of Agro - Biotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoobsk, Russian Federation

t-glotova@mail.ru

Pavel Rudenko

RUDN University, Russian Federation

pavelrudenko76@yandex.ru

Abstract

In recent decades, the spectrum of pathogens has shifted, with an increasing proportion of opportunistic and rare fungi involved in the development of skin infections in animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological properties of rare opportunistic mold fungi isolated from the skin of farm animals in Kazakhstan. 760 biomaterial samples collected from cattle, sheep, and horses in six regions of Northern and Central Kazakhstan were analyzed. Mycological analysis yielded 281 fungal isolates, including rare representatives of the genera Chaetomium, Trichoderma, and Trichothecium. Isolates were identified using culture-morphological and molecular genetic methods. The enzymatic (proteolytic, urease, saccharolytic), keratinophilic, and keratinolytic activities of the strains were studied. It was established that the rare isolates possess pronounced enzymatic potential associated with pathogenic factors. Chaetomium globosum exhibited high keratinophilic and keratinolytic activity. Trichoderma citrinoviride exhibited high carbohydrate digestion activity and moderate keratinolytic activity. Trichothecium roseum exhibited high overall enzymatic activity and the ability to actively destroy hair.

Keywords:
Chaetomium, Trichoderma, Trichothecium, cutaneous mycoses, mold fungi, rare pathogens, enzymatic activity

Article Details

Received 2026-03-20
Accepted 2026-04-10
Published 2026-04-13

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