Experimental guinea pig model of dermatophytosis: a simple and useful tool for the evaluation of new diagnostics and antifungals

The aim of this study was to establish a simple guinea pig model for the purpose of evaluating diagnostic principles and treatment modalities for dermatophytic infections. The following variables were evaluated; pre-treatment of the skin by shaving versus tape stripping, Microsporum canis or Trichophyton mentagrophytes test strains as etiologic agents, differences in inoculum concentrations, and inoculation with and without occlusion. The course of infection was evaluated clinically by redness and lesion scores and mycologically by microscopy, culture, and histopathology. The applicability of the model was evaluated with a recently developed diagnostic pan-dermatophyte PCR and antifungal treatment was tested with an oral solution of itraconazole, 10 mg/kg, once daily during days 3–14 of the test period. Pre-treatment of the skin with a manual razor was for practical reasons preferable to tape stripping. Inoculation under occlusion showed no advantage in the establishment of experimental infections. Infect...