Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is the most important infectious and contagious skin disease of cats in shelters. Wherein, the diagnosis, identification and treatment of dermatophytosis is not always effective. Here we report an epidemiological study of the outbreak of feline dermatophytosis in animal shelter in Moscow region. At least 11% of cats kept in the shelter were affected. Seventeen cats suspected dermatophytosis were isolated for mycological examination and treatment, 82% of them were culture-positive. These cats received a course of oral terbinafine, with no topical treatment. Of the dermatophyte-positive cats, 36% demonstrated skin lesions, while 64% were asymptomatic. No mycological control of recovery was carried out after treatment. It was found that 44% of clinically recovered cats turned to be asymptomatic carriers. When examining environmental objects (bedding, cat houses, floors, etc.), dermatophytes were isolated from 80% of the samples. The only causative agent of dermatophytosis was Microsporum canis. The MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) of terbinafine for clinical strains of M. canis was determined to be 0.001-0.002 μg/ml. The study confirms the need for large-scale mycological screening of cats in shelters using DTM-type diagnostic media. Oral therapy alone is not sufficient for effective treatment; it should include the whole-body antifungal treatment. Mycological control of cure is also mandatory.

The aim of the study was to develop a differential diagnostic nutrient medium for the rapid diagnosis of animal dermatophytosis. Abroad, for these purposes, environments such as Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM) are successfully used, but in Russia such diagnostics has not been developed. As a result of our research, we selected the optimal composition of the nutrient medium, including growth and selective supplements. DTM-Expert, a developed domestic environment for growth, indicator and selective properties, was not inferior to foreign analogues, while it was much cheaper and more ergonomic in use. The widespread introduction of the developed DTM-Expert environment will significantly simplify the diagnosis of dermatophytosis and increase its effectiveness. Also, DTM-Expert can be used to monitor the latent micronization in animals that have no clinical signs of dermatophytosis.

In the current one-year study 2477 samples from pets clinically suspected for dermatophytosis (1010 from dogs and 1467 from cats) were examined by direct microscopy, conventional mycological culture and DTM culture. Direct microscopy revealed 1,28% positive samples, conventional culture – 8,0% and DTM culture – 27,7% positive samples. The average incidence of dermatophytosis in Moscow region was 14% (9,5% in cats and 4,5% in dogs), most of cases were diagnosed in autumn. DTM culture proved to be the most effective method for diagnosing dermatophytosis in pets.

The need to reduce excessive, and often not rational, use of antibiotics in bacteriosis treatment and prevention is acknowledged unanimously by representatives of medicine and veterinary medicine. One of the most important tasks for relevant research and productive organizations is finding the alternative treatments for bacterial infections in view of the growing trend of the increasing of antibiotic resistance. Against this background, limiting the use of antibiotics and developing new antibacterial agents is a priority. This review reflects the current view of specialized departments, government and public structures, business community on the field of application of antibacterial agents, including on the basis of bacteriophages. The work explains the feasibility of minimizing and rationalizing the use of antibiotics. There is also described the history of the researches about bacteriophages, their properties, peculiarities of application and examples of the use of bacteriophages in medicine and veterinary medicine, as well as in food and processing industries. Bacteriophages are a complete antibacterial agent which can be used not only in the direction of treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, but also in the field of biodesinfection, biodecontamination and bioconservation.

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