CURRENT UNDERSTANDING ON CANINE AND FELINE DERMATOPHYTOSIS: CLINICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES

Dermatophytosis (ringworm,tinea), an important infectious cutaneous fungal disease of humans and animals including pets, is reported from many countries of the world including India.It affects around 20–25% of the world’s population.Disease is mainly caused by many species of dermatophytes, however, Microsporumcanis is involved in most of cases of canine and feline ringworm.Young animals are more frequently affected than adults.Animals can acquire the infection from direct contact with affected animals or humans, from contaminated bedding, hair brushes, food bowls etc. and also from environment.Typical lesions, which consist of focal alopecia, scaling, and thin, greyish white crusts, are mostly observed around the ears, face, muzzle, abdomen, tail, and feet. Direct microscopy in mounting fluid and cultural isolation on mycological media are still widely employedfor diagnosis of dermatophytosis. The detailed microscopic morphology of the isolated dermatophytes can be studied in a newly developed “Narayan” stain. The disease should be differentiated from bacterial dermatitis, parasitic infestations, seborrhoea, and neoplasia.Both topical skin ointments(miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine) and systemic oral antifungal antibiotics (itraconazole,terbinafine) are used for the treatment of pet animals. The present review focuses on the etiology, clinical spectrum, diagnosis, and treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. In addition, the public health implications of zoophilic dermatophytes are discussed.