The epidemiology of canine and feline dermatophytoses in southern Italy

A total of 424 animals (268 dogs and 156 cats) with skin lesions (alopecia and peripheral scaling) were examined from January 1999 to December 2002. Of the 424 samples examined, 99 (23.3%) yielded a positive culture and, in particular, 20.5% of the dog samples and 28.2% of the cat samples. Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte isolated from dogs and cats (77.7%), followed by geophilic dermatophyte species (M. gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre). Young dogs and cats, especially those younger than 1 year, showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of M. canis infection than older animals. No statistically significant association was found between infection and sex in cats, while male dogs were more affected by dermatophytes. Among breeds, Yorkshire terriers showed the highest positivity (50%) caused mainly by M. canis (46.6%), while no differences were noticed for cats. A significantly higher prevalence of positive samples was registered in summer and in autumn for cats. The presence of dermatophytes was not associated with itching. The diagnostic value of Wood's lamp fluorescence and microscopic examination proved to be scarce compared with fungal cultures as only 45.5% of the 77 samples that tested positive for M. canis at the cultural examination was positive under Wood's lamp florescence and 53.2% at microscopic examination.

[1]  L. Ajello.  Natural history of the dermatophytes and related fungi , 1974, Mycopathologia et mycologia applicata.

[2]  R. Tio,et al.  Prevalence of superficial mycoses in the Aosta Valley Region of Italy from 1984 to 1989 , 1991, Mycopathologia.

[3]  S. Nardoni,et al.  Dermatophytes isolated from symptomatic dogs and cats in Tuscany, Italy during a 15-year-period , 2004, Mycopathologia.

[4]  F. Cabañes,et al.  Dermatophytes isolated from domestic animals in Barcelona, Spain , 2004, Mycopathologia.

[5]  M. Baxter,et al.  Isolation of fungi from the pelage of cats and dogs using the hairbrush technique , 2004, Mycopathologia.

[6]  A. Silverio,et al.  Superficial mycoses observed at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Pavia , 2004, Mycopathologia.

[7]  M. Mahmoudi,et al.  Dermatophytes isolated from domestic animals in Iran , 2003, Mycoses.

[8]  M. Pau,et al.  Tinea capitis in adults , 1995, Mycoses.

[9]  P. Mercantini,et al.  Epidemiology of dermatophytoses observed in Rome, Italy, between 1985 and 1993 , 1995, Mycoses.

[10]  V. Marchisio,et al.  Dermatophytes from cases of skin disease in cats and dogs in Turin, Italy , 1995, Mycoses.

[11]  R. Galuppi,et al.  Dermatofitosi: tre anni di attività del Laboratorio di Micologia , 1994 .

[12]  B. Kummel.  Small animal dermatology. , 1994 .

[13]  A. Oriani,et al.  Dermatophytes and dermatophytoses in the Milan area between 1970 and 1989 , 1993, Mycoses.

[14]  A. Sparkes,et al.  Epidemiological and diagnostic features of canine and feline dermatophytosis in the United Kingdom from 1956 to 1991 , 1993, Veterinary Record.

[15]  G. Hosgood,et al.  Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Dermatophytosis in Dogs and Cats at Louisiana State University: 1981–1990 , 1991 .

[16]  D. Hosmer,et al.  Applied Logistic Regression , 1991 .

[17]  E. Difonzo,et al.  Epidemiology of the Dermatophytoses in the Florence Area: 1982–84.1. Microsporum canis Infections * , 1986, Mykosen.

[18]  H. Stenwig.  Isolation of dermatophytes from domestic animals in Norway. , 1985, Nordisk veterinaermedicin.

[19]  J. Rippon.  The changing epidemiology and emerging patterns of dermatophyte species. , 1985, Current topics in medical mycology.

[20]  D. Scott,et al.  Dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton terrestre infection in a dog and cat. , 1980 .

[21]  M. Baxter.  Ringworm due to Microsporum canis in cats and dogs in New Zealand. , 1973, New Zealand veterinary journal.

[22]  H. I. Winner.  Dermatophytes: Their Recognition and Identification , 1971 .

[23]  G. Resell,et al.  Dermatophytes: Their Recognition and Identification , 1965 .

[24]  W. Kaplan,et al.  Observations on the seasonal variations in incidence of ringworm in dogs and cats in the United States. , 1962, Sabouraudia.