Animals as a Reservoir of Human Ringworm in New Zealand

Abstract

Investigations in New Zealand have shown that animals are an important reservoir of human ringworm. Of 4,328 dermatophytes recovered from human lesions over the six-year period 1963-68, 1,579 (36-5%) were considered to be of animal origin-1,254 (29-0% total) Microsporum canis; 189 (4-4% total) Trichophyton erinacei; 86 (2-0'/r total) Trichophyton mentagrophytes; 46 (1'1%) Trichophyton verrucosum; 2 Microsporum distortum and 2 Trichophyton equinum var. autotrophicum. Human infection with zoophilic dermatophytes was more pronounced in the younger age groups, showed no marked sex distribution, and usually occurred at only a single exposed site on the body. Apart from the M. canis ringworms which occurred mainly between the months February to August (autumn, winter), no marked seasonal variations were observed.Of the 12 dermatophyte species recovered from 1,290 wild, domestic and laboratory animals examined between 1960-68, only nine were regarded as possessing parasitic properties. These were the zoophilic Microsporum canis, M. distortum, M. nanum, Trichophyton erinacei, T. equinum var. autotrophicum, T. gallinae, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, and the geophilic M. gypseum. Those regarded as essentially non-pathogenic were the geophilic M. cookei, T. ajelloi and T. terrestre. Apart from T. mentagrophytes which was recovered from a wide variety of animals, the remaining pathogenic dermatophytes displayed marked host specificities. T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum was not isolated from any of the human or animal specimens.It is confirmed that, in New Zealand, animals form an important reservoir of human ringworm. Direct contact with small domestic pets rather than larger farm animals is the main source of ir>fection. Of the small wild animals, hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) appear most important.Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, University o£ Otago,

Clinical signs, therapy and zoonotic risk of pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis

“…The other one responded completely to antifungal and antiparasitic medication in combination. Reports of M. canis infections in guinea pigs are rare, 12,14 which corresponds to the findings in this study.…”

Dermatophyte prevalence in Wellington, New Zealand

“…The isolation rates for zoophilic fungi confirm those from earlier New Zealand reports [2,8]. The ratio of T. rubrum to T. mentagrophytes var interdigitale isolates were markedly different to one report [2] although the combined percentages were comparable.…”

Dermatophyte agents in the city of São Paulo, from 1992 to 2002

“…This is an anthropophilic fungus perfectly adapted to human keratinized tissues causing a mild chronic inflammation and rarely infects animals 49 . There have been only a few reports of its isolation from animals (cats, dogs, calves) 22,37,43,50,52 .…”