Incidence of dermatophytosis in canine cases presented at Apollo Veterinary College, Rajashtan, India

Aim: Ring worm are fungal infection relevant to animal and human health. The study was aimed to assess the frequency of dermatophytes infection of the skin of dogs in and around the Jaipur city. Materials and methods: One twenty canine samples were obtained during three years (2008-2011) from dogs suffering from different dermatological disorders and were invitro processed for dermatophytes detection at the Department of Microbiology, Apollo College of veterinary medicine Agra Road, Jaipur. Result: Out of these, eighty nine samples were positive respectively for Microsporum gypseum 55.83%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 18.3% and other fungal isolate Alternaria spp. sporadic in 15 samples (0.12%). Retrospective studies of dermatophytosis due to Microsporum and Trichophyton were performed with the sole consideration of public health consequence of the canine ringworm. Conclusion: In the present study samples were found positive for Microsporum gypseum 55.83%, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 18.3% and other fungal isolate Alternaria spp. Considering the veterinary and public health importance of canine ringworm it would be necessary to assess the prevalence of the dermatophytosis in Rajasthan.


Introduction
to itchiness [4].It's infection are hardly fatal but mostly debilitative and disfiguring disease that can Dermatophytosis is a specific fungal disease of give rise to permanent deformation if untreated [1]. the epidermal tissues in the skin and these are the most Dermatophytes are significant due to their common agents of fungal infections worldwide [1].zoonotic potential and the concern of owner of pets Dermatophytes fungi demonstrate affinity for cornified with some time severe inflammatory diseases [5].epidermis and adnexal structures are common in dogs, This study was aimed to assess the frequency of cat and other animals and are documented communicable dermatophytes infection of the skin of dogs in and to the man [2].Its incidence is related to the geographic around the Jaipur city.region, climate and prevalent animal husbandry practices.It is frequently found in young, stray sick and Materials and methods debilated animal.Dermatophytes belong to three genera: During September 2008 to August 2011 one Microsporum, trichophyton and epidermophyton.The hundred twenty dogs with various skin lesions were most frequently dermatophytes infestation in dogs are examined at the department of veterinary microbiology, microsporum spp.and trichophyton spp.Fungi share the Apollo college of Veterinary medicine, Agra Road ability to utilise keratin as a nutrient substrate, and the Jaipur.Breed, sex, age and clinical appearance of infection of keratinised tissues is also termed ringworm lesions were on spot recorded.All animal presented [3].Skin lesions that appear are variable and do not suspected skin disease (lesions are round with necessarily form a ring.There will be hair loss, usually embossed edges and occurring in any part of the body).in small patches at first.There might be scratching due A small sample of each scraping was digested in with M. Gypseum and M. canis [10].Trichophyton 20% potassium hydroxide (KOH) by heating and infections were found lesser than M. Canis in Chennai examined by direct microscopy in lactophenol cotton [11], in Nigeria [12], in western turkey [13] and in Iran blue (LPCB) stain as per standard protocol [6].Wet [14].Our findings are contraindicatory to international mount of each skin sample was prepared and examined reports of M. Canis infection [15,16].It can be for the presence of macroconidia and mycotic hyphae attributed to different geographical distribution of the using standard techniques [6].Simultaneously pathogen in the study area.Microsporum gypseum is a suspected samples were incubated at 27 ºC and 37 ºC geophillic dermatophyte, infest epidermal tissue and for three to four weeks on Sabouraud's dextrose agar cause tissue mycoses in domestic livestock and pets (Hi-media) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.5 [5].The presence of Alternaria spp which are non mg/ml) as well as cycloheximide (0.5 mg/ml) and dermatophyte contaminant fungal flora may be due to were identified by the morphological characteristics their ubiquitous nature of their spores in the environment. of the thallus, hyphae, macroconidia and microconidia Saprobe fungi also recovered contaminant fungal flora [2,6,7].A definitive diagnosis of microsporum and from pets, which are commonly found in the environment trichophyton was based on complete laboratory [16,17].It is suspected that environmental contamination testing, coupled with clinical findings and response to provided constant exposure to a large source of therapy.
organisms which contributed to the eventual relapse of the infection.

Results and Discussion
Dogs suffer a dermatophyte infection at any age, All 120 dogs showed clinical evidence of charabut ringworm infection is more frequent in the young cteristics skin lesions grossly visible as erythematic [18,19].In addition to age, risk factor includes poor itching rings, irregular diffuse alopecic patches and nutrition, high density of animals, poor management scab formation.and lack of an adequate quarantine period for infected Eighty nine dogs were positive for dermatophytes.pets [20].The dermatophytes are transmitted by Two fungal genera, microsporum and trichophyton contact with infected hair, fomites (clippers, brushes) spp.were observed pathogenic and highly prevalent.or from the environment (spores in soil).Dogs harbour Microsporum gypseum infection was confirmed in 67 many saprophytic moulds and yeasts on their hair samples (55.83%) whereas 22 samples (18.3%) found coats and skin such as Alternaria, Mucor etc.These positive for Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection saprophytic isolates represent transient contamination (Table .1).The other fungal isolate was Alternaria spp by air borne fungi or by fungi in soil; some of them in 15 samples (0.12%).All patients were treated either have potential allergenic activity [21].with oral griseofulvin or ketoconazole or itraconazole.

Use of topical antifungal and antibacterial antibiotics such as wokazole was often used as supportive therapy
In the present study samples were found positive in complicated cases, exhibiting secondary microbial for Microsporum gypseum 55.83%, Trichophyton infection particularly those with bacterial infection.
mentagrophytes 18.3% and other fungal isolate Dermatophytosis is a common skin disease in Alternaria spp.Considering the veterinary and public dogs especially during spring and autumn.The clinical health importance of canine ringworm it would be signs of dermatophytosis are extremely variable, and necessary to assess the prevalence of the dermatothe owners many times unaware that their pet is phytosis in Rajasthan.infected until they themselves contract the disease.All the authors has read and approved the manuscript.