Epidemiological studies and antifungal sensitivity pattern of clinical isolates of dermatophytes from localized cases of canine dermatophytosis

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs caused by keratinophilic fungi of the family Arthrodermataceae.Dermatophytes of veterinary importance belong to genus Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.Lesser treatment options and frequent use of non-prescription antifungal drugs resulted in development of resistance to the commonly used drugs.The research was conducted to study the epidemiology of cases of localized canine dermatophytosis and to assess the antifungal sensitivity pattern of the isolated organisms.Animals tentatively diagnosed with dermatophytosis based on the presence of endothrix or ectothrix on trichogram were selected for the study.Occurrence rate of dermatophytosis was 17.66% during the study period.The dermatophytes isolated in the current study were Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum.The sensitivity pattern of the dermatophytes varied depending on the species isolated.Majority of the M. canis isolates were mainly sensitive to nystatin, M. gypseum to amphotericin B and T. mentagrophytes to itraconazole, whereas resistance was shown by all three isolates against fluconazole.Statistically significant difference was noticed in the culture results obtained on two different fungal specific medias viz, dermatophyte test medium and sabouraud dextrose agar.