ADEDOYIN EBERE EKEOMA2023-09-212023-09-212008-01-09https://teras.ng/api/asset/document/6272c021-b44d-4d12-8462-ad95c6efcbd4https://teras.ng/catalog-item/ea4a4bf9-b975-4040-99d5-2fabf44cae2ahttp://dspace.teras-network.net:4000/handle/123456789/7456Tinea capitis is a highly contagious infection of the scalp and hair caused by dermatophytes. In Nigera, as much as 30.6% of children have been reported to have these dermatophytic fungal infection. Dermatophytic fungal isolates from pupils in three primary schools in Zaria Nigeria were cultured, characterized and identified using standard microbiological methods. Antifungal activities of five selected commonly used chemical agents against five most resistant dermatophytic fungal isolates viz Trichophyton rubrum (Tr10), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Tm07), Trichophyton tonsurans (Tt06), Trichophyton verucosum (Tv03), and Trichophyton soudanese (Ts01), were investigated using parameters such as Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC), Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC), for Antifungal Agents Combinations and the effect of time on sporicidal activities of test chemical agents on the most resistant dermatophytic fungal spores. A total of 81 dermatophytic fungi were isolated from 150 swabs and samples collected from the volunteered primary school pupils. The dermatophytes were Trichophyton rubrum (12), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (18), Trichophyton verucosum (14) Trichophyton soudanese (16), Trichophyton tonsurans (13), Trichophyton violaceum (4) and Microsporum canis (4). Test fungal isolates with the highest incidences were Trichophyton mentagrophytes 18(22.2%), followed by Trichophyton soudanese 16(19.8%). Microsporum canis and Trichophyton violaceum were the least isolated, 4(4.9%) each. The M.I.C values of Flucytosine, Terbinafine HCL, and Tioconazole range from 0.50 to 100.00μg/ml against the five selected test fungi spores. The antifungal activity of Sodium propionate ranges from 50.0 to 250.0 μg/ml against the five dermatophytic spores. The order of inhibitory antifungal activity was Fluconazole > flucytosine >Terbinafine > Tioconazole > Sodium propionate. Similarly the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration of the test antifungal agents against the five selected test fungi spores showed the order of the antifungal activities as Fluconazole, > Terbinafine > Flucytosine > Tioconazole > Sodium Propionate. The most resistant dermatophyte was Trichophyton rubrum. Biocidal activities of the test compounds at 0.156μM concentration, displayed marked fungicidal activities in the order of Terbinafine HCl >Tioconazole > sodium propionate > Fluconazole, with one log cycle reduction time of 5.0, 7.5, 15.0, and 20.0 minutes respectively. After the first 30 minutes contact time in the admixtures, the log cycles reduction of resistant T.rubrum spores were in the following order; Terbinafine HCL (3.90) > Tioconazole (2.40) > Sodium Propionate (1.50) > Fluconazole (1.20) log cycles reductions. Generally, there was rapid rate of fungicidal activity among the test antifungal agents within the first 50 minutes. Based on the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) values of the test antifungal agents, six new potential combined antifungal agents were formulated with tenfold their M.F.C. Results of the combinations of test antifungal agents against the most resistant T. rubrum showed synergism for Terbinafine /Sodium propionate, Fluconazole/ Sodium propionate, and Tioconazole /sodium propionate. The observed results in this study proved that the test antifungal agents singly and in combination possessed appreciable activities against the isolated dermatophytic fungi spores in Zaria NigeriaResearch Theses