EFFECT OF pH AND TEMPERATURE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF TEST ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS

ABSTRACT The fungi isolated from the pupils with Tinea capitis dermatophytic infection from primary schools in Zaria Nigeria, were all characterized and identified by using standard microbiological methods. Six most resistant dermatophytic fungi isolates, namely Trichophyton rubrum (12), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (18), Trichophyton tonsurans (13), Trichophyton verrucosum (14), Trichophyton soudanese (16) and Microsporum canis (4) were selected after preliminary susceptibility investigations. The antifungal activities of selected chemical agents against fungal spore isolates from Tinea capitis were investigated using parameters such as determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIQ), effects of varying pH, and temperature on the test antifungal agents combinations. Four different selected antifungal agents were used to test for the susceptibility of the dermatophytic spores. The MIC values of Fluconazole and Tioconazole range from 0.50 to 100.00ug/ml against the five selected test fungi spores. The antifungal activity of Sodium Propionate ranges from 50.0 to 250.0ug/ml against the five dermatophytic spores. The order of inhibitory antifungal activity is Flucytosine > Fluconazole > Tioconazole > Sodium propionate. The combined Fluconazole or Tioconazole with Sodium propionate were formulated and their antifungal activities determined. The observed results in this, study proved that the test antifungal agents singly possesses antifungal activity, but when used in combination possessed greater activities against the isolated dermatophytic fungi spores in Zaria, Nigeria.....