First study on molecular epidemiology of dermatophytosis in cats, dogs, and their companions in the Kurdistan region of Iraq

Abstract

Background and Aim: Dermatophytosis is a zoonotic infection of the hair, skin, or nails in animals and humans caused by dermatophytes fungi. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dermatophytosis and its associated factors in cats, dogs, and humans in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Materials and Methods: Skin scraping samples were taken from cats, dogs, and humans with or without skin lesions. In total, 271 samples were collected; 133 from cats, 94 from dogs, and 44 from humans. The collected samples were cultured on dermatophyte test media for fungal isolation and molecular identification. Results: The prevalence of the disease was 44.36%, 40.43%, and 65.91% in cats, dogs, and humans, respectively. Microsporum canis, the most frequently isolated dermatophyte, occurred in 94.92% of cats, 92.11% of dogs, and 100.0% of humans whereas, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was only isolated from 5.08% of cats to 7.89% of dogs. Animals and humans at younger ages were more susceptible to the infection. Males were more susceptible than females among animals, while the reverse was true in humans. Housed cats were at higher risk of dermatophytosis than outdoor-reared cats, whereas outdoor-reared dogs were at higher risk of dermatophytosis than indoor-reared dogs. The affected skin in animals and humans is significantly associated with higher prevalence rates of the disease. Contact with infected cats and dogs was associated with increased infection rates in humans. Patients with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were found to be at higher risk of dermatophytosis than those with no history of COVID-19. Conclusion: Awareness should be raised among people about the zoonotic aspect of the disease, especially among those with COVID-19, to avoid contact with cats and dogs, who are at risk of the disease.

Phylogenetic analysis of dermatophytes isolated from small domestic animals

“…For correspondence: Tatyana I. Glotova, Doctor of Science (Biology), Professor, Chief Researcher, Laboratory of Biotechnologies -Diagnostic Center, Institute of Experimental Veterinary Science of Siberia and the Far East SFSCA RAS, 630501, Russia, Novosibirsk Oblast, Novosibirsky District, Krasnoobsk, e-mail: t-glotova@mail.ru. Для обеспечения точности результатов амплифицированные фрагменты секвенировали с двумя парами праймеров: ITS1F прямой (TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG) и ITS4R обратный (TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC) [12]; ITS4F прямой (TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC) и ITS5R обратный (GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG) [14].…”

“…Применение метода мультилокусного микросателлитного типирования было использовано для изучения путей распространения и передачи M. canis в Японии [11]. Результаты изучения распространенности M. canis среди кошек, собак и людей с помощью молекулярногенетического типирования с применением прямого (ITS1 5'-TC CGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') и обратного (ITS4 5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3') праймеров показало, что домашние и уличные животные, а также кошки и собаки с симптомами или без симптомов заболевания являются основными источниками дерматофитов для человека [12]. Применение молекулярных методов позволило установить этиологическую структуру дерматофитозов в Иране, которая была представлена следующими видами: M. canis -78,5%, M. gypseum -10,7% и T. mentagrophytes -10,7% [13].…”

Dermatophytosis in Cats: Clinical Signs and Identification of Etiological Agent

“…D ermatophytosis, or ringworm, is a potential zoonotic fungal infection. Dermatophytes are classified into the Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton genera based on the morphology of conidia and the secondary organs ( Jarjees and Issa, 2022). Although the risk of ringworm is limited, the risk of occurrence, long-term illness, and the cost of treatment can be problematic due to ringworm (Haydar et al, 2012;Mahboubi and Kazempour, 2015;Indarjulianto et al, 2017).…”