Virulence Factors and Antifungal Resistance in Dermatophytes Associated with Dandruff among University Students and a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Incidence dandruff among students of a tertiary school was assessed in this study. A standard questionnaire was used to get demographic data while standard microbiological methods were used to identify organisms associated with the infection. Virulence factors and resistance of the isolates to different antifungal agents were also determined. Seventy-eight (65.55 %) out of 119 students sampled had dandruff while dermatophytes were isolated from only 32 (41.07 %). The highest occurrence of dandruff was observed among the age group of 21-25 years with 32 (71.11%) followed by 20 (60.61%) found among 31-35 age group. A total of 108 (90.76 %) of the subjects were single while 9.24 % (n=11) were married. Dry flakes with itching are the highest sign and symptoms among the subject with 71 (91.03 %). A total of 23 (29.29 %) used shampoo as an intervention for dandruff treatment. Two genera of dermatophytes were recovered in this study. The occurrence of Trichophyton was more than Microsporum.The isolates presented different virulence factors. None of the isolates was susceptible to clotrimazole while all Trichophyton were resistant to fluconazole. Nystatin followed by ketoconazole had good inhibitory effects on the isolates. The knowledge of the efficient screening, management, reduction, and treatment of the dermatophytic infection should be fruitful in the future