Dermatophytosis

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Age predisposition, Breed predisposition, Pathogenesis, Etiology, Predisposing factors, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology (population dynamics), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Prevention, Control, Prophylaxis, Group eradication, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Rosanna Marsella DVM DipACVD
Dr Ian Mason BVetMed PhD CertSAD DipECVD MRCVS
Mr David Scarff BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS
Synonyms Ringworm

Introduction

  • Cause : infection with Microsporum canis most common  Microsporum canis  .
  • Direct and indirect transmission.
  • Common zoonosis  Ringworm: human  .
  • Often self-limiting.
  • Signs : variable.
  • Treatment : responds to treatment with antifungal agents  Therapeutics: non-bacterial infection  .
    Print off the owner factsheet on Ringworm  Ringworm  to give to your client.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Expanding annular areas of alopecia, scale and crust  Ringworm: face 01   Ringworm: face 02   Ringworm: periorbital region  .
  • Folliculitis  Bacterial folliculitis  at predilection sites.
  • Minimal pruritus.
  • History of contact with infected animal.
  • Kerion; exudative, nodular furuncular lesion.
  • Papular or pustular eruption.
  • Miliary dermatitis  Dermatitis: miliary   Skin: miliary dermatitis - DSH 8 years  .
  • Asymptomatic carriage.
  • Trichophyton spp  Trichophyton spp  : folliculitis and furunculosis of face, nose or paw.
  • T. mentagrophytes   →   kerion: nodular type of furunculosis; develops multiple draining tracts.
  • Paronychia.
  • Onychodystrophy.
  • Otitis externa  Otitis externa  .
  • Generalized infection   →   miliary dermatitis  Dermatitis: miliary  .
  • Dermatophytic pseudomycetoma in Persians.
  • Chin folliculitis.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Flea bite hypersensitivity  Flea bite hypersensitivity  .
  • Food hypersensitivity  Food hypersensitivity  .
  • Eosinophilic granuloma complex  Eosinophilic granuloma complex  .
  • Pemphigus disease complex  Immunological skin disease: overview  .
  • Staphylococcal dermatitis  Staphylococcus spp  .
  • Demodicosis  Demodectic mange  .

Kerion

  • Foreign body granuloma.
  • Neoplasia  Skin: neoplasia  .

Pseudomycetoma

  • Sterile panniculitis.

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Immunocompetent individuals will self-cure in 60-100 days.
  • Immunocompromized individuals have a guarded prognosis.
  • Clearing a colony of infection is time consuming, expensive and arduous.

Expected response to treatment

  • Resolution of lesions is likely to be slow (weeks).
  • Treatment should continue for 2 weeks beyond clinical cure or until two negative fungal cultures.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Failure to treat in-contacts and environment.
  • Treatment stopped too early.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Patel A, Lloyd D H & Lamport A I (2005)Survey of dermatophytes on clinically normal cats in the southeast of England.JSAP46, 436-439.
  • Guillot Jet al(2002)Evaluation of the efficacy of oral lufenuron combined with topical enilconazole for the management of dermatophytosis in catteries.Vet Rec.150(23), 714-718.
  • Paterson S (1999)Miconazole/chlorhexidine shampoo as an adjunct to systemic therapy in controlling dermatophytosis in cats.JSAP40(4), 163-166.
  • Mancianti F, Pedonese F, Millanta F & Guarnieri L (1999)Efficacy of oral terbinafine in feline dermatophytosis due to Microsporum canis.JESFM1, 37-41.
  • Greisen A (1998)Dermatophytosis - Incidence of subclinical dermatophytosis in cats living in households with human dermatophytosisJSAP8(2), 43-48.
  • Moriello K A (1995)Feline dermatophytosis - recent advances and recommendations for therapy.Vet Clin North Am25, 901-921.
  • DeBoer D J & Moriello K A (1995)Investigations of a killed dermatophyte cell-wall vaccine against infection with Microsporum canis in cats.Res Vet Sci59(2), 110-113.
  • DeBoer D J & Moriello K A (1995)Efficacy of griseofulvin and itraconazole in the treatment of experimentally induced dermatophytosis in cats.JAVMA207(4), 439-444.
  • DeBoer D J & Moriello K A (1995)Inability of two topical treatments to influence the course of experimentally induced dermatophytosis in cats.JAVMA207(1), 52-57.
  • Wright A I (1989)Ringworm in dogs and cats.JSAP30, 242-249.

Other sources of information

  • Sparkes A H, Robinson A, Mackay A D, Shau S E (2000)A study of the efficacy of topical and systemic therapy for the treatment of feline Microsporum canis infection.J Feline Med and Surg2, 135-142.
  • Wolfe A M (1994)Antifungal agents.In:Consultations in Feline Medicine 2.2nd edn. Ed J R August. W B Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 53-56.
  • Foil C S (1990)Dermatophytosis.In:Infectious disease of the dog and cat.Ed C Greene. W B Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 659-668.
  • Foil C S (1986)Antifungal agents in dermatology.In:Current Veterinary Therapy IX.Ed R W Kirk. W B Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 560-565.

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