Detection and characterization of zoonotic dermatophytes from dogs and cats in and around Kolkata

Abstract

Aim:The ringworms of pet dogs, cats, and stray animals (dogs, cats, and other animals) could be a potential source of zoonotic infections causing a serious public health problem in the busy city Kolkata. The pet owners are more susceptible to get this infection from their pets, because of the close contact with them as dermatophytosis is very much prevalent in those pets. So, this study was aimed to check the prevalence of dermatophytosis in dogs, cats, and in pet owners.Materials and Methods:A total of 362 clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis from dogs (123 in number), cats (202 in number), and human beings (37 in number) were collected and studied from in and around Kolkata to detect the presence of significant dermatophytes. Direct microscopy and cultural examination of the isolates were performed following standard methodology. Identification and characterization of the isolates were done by different biochemical tests.Results:Samples (n=285) having significant dermatophytic fungal infections were found to be of highest number in cats (158, 55.5%) than in dogs (108, 37.8%) and humans (19, 6.7%), respectively. The incidence of Microsporum canis (60.0%) was the highest from affecting dogs, cats, and human beings in comparison to Microsporum gypseum (22.5%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (15.8%) and Trichophyton rubrum (1.7%). Detection of T. rubrum was only from human cases in this study, whereas the presence of rest three were slightly higher in cats than that of the dogs and humans in this present study. The incidences were higher in young animals and in humans of the age group of 21-30 years, during the rainy season (from April to August) and also in in-contact human beings.Conclusion:M. canis was the most commonly pathogen among all causing dermatophytosis in animals and also in the pet owners. M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes were other pathogens associated with these infections. These infections were more prevalent in the rainy seasons and in in-contact human patients or pet owners.

Major challenges and perspectives in the diagnostics and treatment of dermatophyte infections

“…The chronic infectious disease in the family members began with the hidden infections of their pets. There are more similar reports in the literature (Murmu et al 2015;Debnath et al 2016;Baumgardner 2017;Pasquetti et al 2017;Graser et al 2018;Neves et al 2018;Gnat et al 2018b). They demonstrate that the tendency towards keeping domestic animals and the possibility of asymptomatic infections in pets have an impact on the growing prevalence of dermatophytoses.…”

Dermatophytosis in companion animals: A review

“…The results of various studies concluded that the main species causing dermatophytosis in pets is Microsporum canis , in 81.8%-97% of the cases [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]. The incidence of zoonotic dermatophytes M. canis was the highest in dogs, cats, and human (60.0%) compared to other species [ 9 ]. High levels of cortisol over a long period of time modulate the immune response and induce immune suppression as the result of lymphatic tissue atrophy [ 8 ].…”

Microsporum canis and other dermatophytes isolated from humans, dogs and cats in mexico city

“…This dermatophyte has been reported in rodents and less frequently in dogs and other mammals. Murmu et al in a previous study isolated in 16.7% from dogs' hair, skin and nails with suggestive lesions of dematophytoses [32]. In India Gangil et al, isolated T. mentagrophytes in 18.3% from dogs with skin lesions [33], while in Baghdad, Jasim isolated 30.95% in dogs, from samples taken from various body sites [34].These data contrast with our findings as we found a lower frequency that the previously cited authors, but this finding becomes relevant as it can be a source of infection or re-infection in human and animals, so better hygienic conditions are recommended to dogs´ owners as well as in places where animals are too close to each other (aesthetic canines and veterinary clinics).…”