Study on diagnosis and identification of etiological agent in mycotic infected dogs

Mycotic dermatitis is a significant dermatological disorder in dogs, characterized by pruritus, alopecia, erythema, and crust formation. This study aimed to diagnose and identify the etiological agents in mycotic infected dogs. A total of 154 dogs exhibiting dermatological disorders were examined using skin scraping, Wood’s lamp screening, direct microscopic examination, and cultural studies. Of these, 32 (20.77%) were diagnosed with fungal dermatitis, and 24 cases were further analyzed through fungal culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with CCG selective supplement. Skin scrapings were collected aseptically from active lesion borders, processed for KOH mount and lactophenol cotton blue staining, and inoculated onto dermatophyte test medium. Wood’s lamp examination revealed yellow-green fluorescence in 65% of cases, while direct microscopy confirmed fungal elements in 75% of samples. Cultural studies identified Microsporum spp. (41.66%) as the predominant fungal pathogen, followed by Trichophyton spp. (29.16%), Malassezia spp. (12.5%), Aspergillus spp. (8.33%), and rare isolates of Basidiobolus spp. (4.16%) and Penicillium spp. (4.16%). The study highlights the occurrence and diversity of fungal agents in canine dermatophytosis, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis through a combination of clinical, microscopic, and cultural assessments.