Isolation and identification of dermatophytes in cats in Balıkesir province

Dermatophytosis can be observed in cats of all ages. However, it is more common in young, sick, elderly, and immunocompromised animals, and the recovery time may be prolonged in these cases. Humid environments and group housing are significant factors contributing to the onset of the disease. The diagnosis of dermatophytosis is primarily made through direct microscopy and culture. For this purpose, hair and skin scrapings taken from the lesion sites are used as materials. A total of at least 56 samples (hair, skin flakes, etc.) collected from suspected dermatophytosis cats by clinical veterinarians and sent to the laboratory for diagnostic mycological purposes were examined. Out of these, 44 samples showed growth, while 12 did not. Based on the isolation and identification results, the most commonly isolated pathogens were Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp., followed by Candida spp., Microsporum spp., Trichophyton spp., and Alternaria spp. These fungal pathogens were isolated and identified from suspected dermatophyte samples in cats in Balıkesir province. One reason for their lower prevalence in this study could be that the samples were taken from pet cats under the care of clinical veterinarians. This study provides the first report on the prevalence of fungal pathogens observed in cats in Balıkesir province. Future studies should focus on monitoring and tracking fungal pathogens in cats, especially considering the One Health principle. Therefore, it was considered beneficial to conduct further research to determine the species-level agents responsible for dermatophytosis.