Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dermatophyte fungi found in dogs and cats with skin lesions
By Seker, Esra & Dogan, Nurhan·Published in Preventive veterinary medicine·2011·Department of Microbiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolation of dermatophytes from dogs and cats with suspected dermatophytosis in Western Turkey.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 198 dogs and 164 cats in Western Turkey with skin issues like hair loss and flaking had a fungal infection called dermatophytosis. About 14% of the animals tested positive for these fungi, with the most common type being Microsporum canis. Young pets under one year old were more likely to be infected, and the infections were more common in spring and winter for dogs, and throughout the year for cats. If your pet has skin lesions, it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian for testing and treatment options.
People also search for: dog skin problems · cat hair loss treatment · fungal infection in pets · dermatophytosis in dogs and cats · how to treat skin lesions in pets
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the species of dermatophytes isolated from dogs and cats and their prevalence in the two big provinces of Western Turkey. A total of 362 animals (198 dogs and 164 cats) with skin lesions (alopecia and desquamation) were examined from March 2006 to February 2008. Of the 362 samples examined, 52 (14.4%) were positive for fungal elements by direct microscopic examination, and 70 (19.3%) were culture positive for dermatophytes. The isolation rates of dermatophyte species from dogs and cats were 18.7% and 20.1%, respectively. Microsporum canis (57.1%) was the most common species isolated from dogs and cats. The prevalence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes was five-fold greater in dogs than in cats (odds ratio=5.226; CI=1.152-23.696). No association was detected between prevalence of infection and provinces, and also sex of dogs and cats. The only risk factor found to be significantly associated with infection was age. Dogs and cats younger than one year of age showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of dermatophytes than other age groups (P<0.05). The isolation rate of dermatophytes was relatively high in the spring and winter for dogs, and in the spring, summer and autumn for cats. However, the association of season and prevalence was found not to be significant.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21126787/