Captive Wild Rabbits As Carriers Of Dermatophytes In Portugal

The wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the most important small game species in the Iberian Peninsula, but there is no information about the presence of dermatophytes in this species. Dermatophytosis or ringworm infection is a superficial skin infection with veterinary and public health importance. Data on dermatophyte carriage are crucial for epidemiological assessment and also for the design of potential control strategies in game farms, farmers and hunters. An epidemiological dermatophytosis survey was carried out in captive wild rabbits without clinical signs in Northern of Portugal, between August and December 2019. Specimen sampling was performed in 71 hair samples collected using the brush technique (MacKenzie). In this study, dermatophytes were identified in samples from five wild rabbits. The overall occurrence of dermatophyte positive animals was 7.0% (95% confidence interval: 2.3-15.6%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the only dermatophyte species isolated. This study suggests that wild rabbits may be carriers of T. mentagrophytes and are a potential source of infection for the farmer, hunters and other animals. Considering the scarcity of epidemiological reports in rabbits and the absence of information in this small game animal, these results can be a useful contribution towards the diagnosis and prevention in captive wild rabbit and farmers.