Clinical and Laboratory Studies of Dermatophytosis Affected Dogs in Correlation to Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Skin diseases are one of the most common health problems in dogs. This study aimed to record the clinical and laboratory findings of dermatophytosis on dogs, with its effect on blood plasma as well as its correlation to oxidative stress. The clinical study was conducted on two groups of dogs. The first group consisted of fourteen dogs was clinically healthy and used as a control one. The second group consisted of sixteen dogs at different ages affected and suffering from dermatophytosis. All dogs were subjected to clinical examination followed by special dermatological examination. Skin scrapings were examined under light microscope for detection of fungal spores. Blood samples were taken for hematological analysis and plasma samples for biochemical analysis. Dermatophytosis affected dogs showed a highly significant decrease of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV values and a significant decrease in RBCs count and MCHC as well as a highly significant increase in total leukocyte counts of diseased dogs when compared to control ones Significant differences in hematological parameters were observed in dermatophytosis affected dogs. Furthermore, Oxidative stress markers such as catalase, SOD, GPx and MDA revealed significant variations in diseased group when compared to healthy ones. A correlation between analyzed data revealed positive correlation between plasma zinc and copper levels and antioxidant enzymes as SOD, GPx in diseased dogs.