Comparative Genomic Analysis of Dermatophyte Pathogens Causing Veterinary Surgical Wound Mycoses in the South South Geopolitical Zone

Dermatophytic wound mycoses present a diagnostically challenging and therapeutically resistant complication in veterinary surgical practice, particularly in humid tropical environments such as Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. The genomic characteristics and antifungal resistance mechanisms of dermatophyte species infecting surgical wounds in animals in this zone have not been previously characterized. This doctoral study performs comparative genomic analysis of dermatophyte isolates recovered from veterinary surgical wound mycoses in dogs, cats, and cattle at veterinary facilities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Edo States between 2020 and 2024. Seventy-nine fungal isolates confirmed as dermatophytes by morphological and molecular identification were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Comparative genomic analyses characterized population structure, phylogenetic relationships, secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, and mechanisms of azole resistance. Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex was the predominant species in 54% of isolates, with Microsporum canis accounting for 29%. A phylogenetically distinct clade of Trichophyton benhamiae unique to the South South zone was identified, representing a potential novel lineage not previously described in West Africa. ERG11 gene mutations conferring fluconazole resistance were detected in 23% of isolates. These original comparative genomic findings represent a significant contribution to veterinary medical mycology in the South South zone, defining the molecular epidemiology of surgical wound dermatophytosis and identifying resistance determinants critical to antifungal treatment protocol development in Nigerian veterinary surgical practice. Keywords: dermatophyte, comparative genomics, surgical wound mycosis, South South Nigeria, antifungal resistance.