Dermatophytoses in Animals

Abstract

Dermatophytoses are one of the most frequent skin diseases of pets and livestock. Contagiousness among animal communities, high cost of treatment, difficulty of control measures, and the public health consequences of animal ringworm explain their great importance. A wide variety of dermatophytes have been isolated from animals, but a few zoophilic species are responsible for the majority of the cases, viz. Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton equinum and Trichophyton verrucosum, as also the geophilic species Microsporum gypseum. According to the host and the fungal species involved, the typical aspect of dermatophytic lesions may be modified. As a consequence, an accurate clinical examination, a good differential diagnosis and laboratory analyses are required for a correct identification. Few antifungal agents are available and licenced for use in veterinary practice, and the use of systemic drugs is limited in livestock due to the problems of residues in products intended for human consumption. The high resistance of the dermatophyte arthroconidia in the environment, the multiplicity of host species, and the confinement of animals in breedings are cause of an enzootic situation in many cases. Prevention is difficult, but research development on the immune response to dermatophytes and the use of vaccination, especially in cattle, have brought some interesting results.

Dermatophytosis due to Microsporum nanum infection in a canine

“…The infection of the keratinized tissue is termed "tinha" or ringworm (BERNARDO et al, 2005;CHERMETTE et al, 2008;BARSIRI-JAHROMI, 2012). These fungi can be found in companion, production, or wild animals (SPIEWAK; SZOSTAK, 2000).…”

“…Direct contact with a contaminated environment or animal is the main source of infection in humans and animals (CHERMETTE et al, 2008). Although, in general, dogs do not maintain direct contact with domestic swine, some dogs are used in the practice of hunting wild boar.…”

“…In dogs, however, no specific treatment for dermatophytosis due to M. nanum infection has been reported. The treatment we used for our reported canine was similar to that used by Chermette et al (2008) in the treatment of M. canis infections, which consisted of systemic oral itraconazole at 10 mg kg -1 every 24 hours and topical 2% miconazole shampoo in two weekly baths. This therapy was effective, with complete remission of the lesions within 30 days of use, and a negative culture after this period.…”

“…This therapy was effective, with complete remission of the lesions within 30 days of use, and a negative culture after this period. The treatment was continued for another 30 days in accordance with the recommendations of Chermette et al (2008) for dermatophytosis.…”

“…The fungi involved in this disease are classified into three genera, namely, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton (BERNARDO et al, 2005;CHERMETTE et al, 2008;SEKER;DOGAN, 2011;BARSIRI-JAHROMI, 2012). M. canis is responsible for most clinical cases of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats (BERNARDO et al, 2005;SEKER;DOGAN, 2011;BARSIRI-JAHROMI, 2012).…”