Reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis as a model for the screening of antifungal drugs against Microsporum canis

A fully differentiated reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis (RFE) was recently developed in vitro. It was shown to be relevant for the study of Microsporum canis-epidermal interactions. In this study, RFE was evaluated as a potential model for the in vitro screening of drugs against M. canis. As a preliminary step, the minimum inhibitory concentration of miconazole nitrate against M. canis IHEM 21239 grown on Sabouraud's dextrose agar was determined to be 0.3 microg mL(-1). RFE grown at the air-liquid interface was cultured for 24 h in RFE culture medium, supplemented with either miconazole (range 0.1-1 microg mL(-1)) or its solvent (dimethylsulfoxide). Then, RFE was inoculated in triplicate with 1 x 10(5 )M. canis arthroconidia and incubated for five additional days. To evaluate fungal growth, RFE was processed for routine histopathology, three serial sections being performed across the block at 100 microm intervals. No fungal growth was detected invading or on the surface of infected RFE in the presence of miconazole concentrations equal to or higher than 0.3 microg mL (final concentration in the culture medium). This study demonstrates that RFE is an adequate model for the in vitro screening of drugs against M. canis and potentially against other skin pathogens.