Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Lime Essential Oil Shampoo Versus 2% Miconazole/Chlorhexidine Combination Shampoo for the Treatment of Dermatophytosis in Client-Owned Cats

We undertook a preliminary clinical study to compare the efficacy of lime essential oil shampoo with a conventional 2% miconazole/chlorhexidine formulation, both in combination with pulse oral itraconazole, in cats with dermatophytosis caused by <i>M. canis</i>. Sixteen affected cats were randomly assigned to receive either lime essential oil shampoo or a 2% miconazole/chlorhexidine formulation. All cats were bathed twice weekly and received itraconazole (5 mg/kg once daily) using a pulse regimen (1 week for every 2 weeks) for 56 days. Clinical assessments, including cytological, direct hair examinations, Wood's lamp evaluation, total skin lesion score (TLS), and fungal pathogen score (FPS), were performed on days 0, 28, 42, and 56. Hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted on days 0, 28, and 56. By day 56, no significant differences were observed between groups in the cytological, direct hair examination, or Wood's lamp results. Both groups had significant reductions in TLS and FPS on days 28, 42, and 56 compared to day 0 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No cutaneous or systemic adverse effects were observed. These findings suggest that lime essential oil shampoo has clinical efficacy comparable to the conventional formulation and may represent a safe natural alternative for the topical management of feline dermatophytosis.