Systematic studies about pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis are rare. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical signs, therapy and zoonotic risk of pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis. Questionnaires from both owners (n = 74) of pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis and their veterinarians (n = 101) were analysed regarding clinical signs, therapy and data pertinent to zoonotic potential. Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes was found in 97% of cases. In the weeks preceding the onset of the clinical signs, a new guinea pig joined the household in 43% of cases. One third of the affected guinea pigs had lived in the household for less than 3 months. Predominant clinical signs were alopecia (83%), scaling (73%) and crusting (70%). The most commonly affected body site was the head (75%). In approximately one quarter of the cases humans showed clinical signs of dermatophytosis, in half the households, only children were affected. Skin lesions were seen most often on the face, the neck and the arms. Pet guinea pigs carrying dermatophytes must be considered a serious zoonotic risk for their owners, especially for children. A major risk factor for dermatophytosis seems to be a recent acquisition of a new guinea pig.

This study shows the MIC distribution of 32 antimicrobial agents for a large collection of R. equi isolates of animal origin from two continents. Isolates that exhibited distinctly elevated MICs of rifampicin were only rarely detected.

For about 10 years, a new variant of the pathogen Trichophyton (T.) benhamiae has appeared in Germany, characterized by a previously unobserved culture phenotype with a strong yellow reverse. A few studies suggest that this new variety is now the most common zoophilic dermatophyte in Germany. The guinea pig is the main carrier. Exact prevalence measurements are not yet available. Thus, the aim of our ongoing study was to collect data on the frequency and geographic distribution of the pathogen and its phenotypes (white and yellow) in humans and guinea pigs throughout Germany. Our former studies have already shown that animals from large breeding farms are particularly heavily affected. In contrast to this, 21 small, private breedings were sampled and husbandry conditions recorded. This placed us in a position to identify propagation factors and to give recommendations for containment. For animals from private breedings, we detected T. benhamiae with a prevalence of 55.4%, which is a reduction of nearly 40% compared with animals from large breeding farms. As risk factors, we identified the type of husbandry and the contact to other breedings. Furthermore, certain animal races, like Rex guinea pigs and races with long hair in combination with curls were predestined for colonization with T. benhamiae due to their phenotypic coat characteristics. A prevalence for infections with T. benhamiae of 36.2% has been determined for symptomatic pet guinea pigs suspected of having dermatophytosis and is comparable to the study of Kraemer et al. showing a prevalence of 34.9% in 2009 in Germany. The prevalence in humans is stable with about 2–3% comparing the data of 2010–2013 and 2018 in Thuringia. The new type of T. benhamiae was by far the most frequent cause in all settings.

Background: The yeast Malassezia pachydermatis is a commensal but also the most isolated pathogenic yeast in canine otitis externa. Essential oils (EOs) exhibit antimicrobial activity and thus could be an alternative for treatment of otitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the in vitro efficacy of EOs against M. pachydermatis isolates from canine ears. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two EOs were tested for their in vitro activity against 15 M. pachydermatis isolates by agar disc diffusion. In addition, diluted EOs were tested and volatile antifungal activity was analysed by vapour assay. Results: Most EOs showed in vitro efficacy against M. pachydermatis. A different susceptibility pattern of tested isolates was found. Overall, the most potential EO was lemon grass. Also, cinnamon leaf, clove, manuka, Indian melissa, oregano, palmarosa, and winter savory oil exhibited a strong antifungal activity. Volatile activity was proven by the inhibiting effect in vapour assay. Conclusion: EOs show in vitro activity against M. pachydermatis. This study gives scientific background for the use of EOs in veterinary medicine. Diverse susceptibility patterns of different M. pachydermatis strains emphasise the helpfulness of an aromatogram as one lead for the best choice of an EO for therapy. Antimykotische In-vitro-Wirksamkeit ätherischerÖle gegen Malassezia pachydermatis isoliert aus Hundeohren: Ein Bericht aus dem Routinelabor Schlüsselwörter Ätherische Öle · Malassezia pachydermatis · Otitis externa · Veterinärmedizin Zusammenfassung Einleitung: Der Hefepilz Malassezia pachydermatis gilt als Kommensale, ist aber gleichzeitig auch der am häufigsten isolierte Hefepilz bei caniner Otitis externa. Ätherische Öle könnten aufgrund ihrer antimikrobiellen Eigenschaften als alternative Therapie der Otitis verwendet werden. Zielsetzung: Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung der antifungalen In-vitro-Wirksamkeit ätherischer Öle gegen M. pachydermatis-Isolate aus Hundeohren. Material und Methoden: Die In-vitro-Aktivität von 22 ätherischen Ölen wurde mittels Agar-Plättchen-Diffusionstest gegen 15 M. pachydermatis-Isolate untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden Verdünnungen der ätherischen Öle getestet und die volatile Wirkung mittels "vapour assay" analysiert. Ergebnisse: Die meisten ätherischen Öle zeigten in vitro eine Wirksamkeit gegen M. pachydermatis. Es konnte eine unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit einzelner M. pachydermatis-Isolate gefunden werden. Lemongrasöl erwies sich als das po-tenteste ätherische Öl. Ebenfalls zeigten Zimtblätter-, Nelken-, Manuka-, indisches Melissen-, Oregano-, Palmarosa-und Bergbohnenkrautöl eine starke antifungale Wirksamkeit. Die volatile Wirkung konnte mittels "vapour assay" gezeigt werden. Schlussfolgerung: In vitro zeigen ätherische Öle eine Wirksamkeit gegen den Hefepilz M. pachydermatis. Diese Studie bietet eine wissenschaftliche Basis zur Anwendung ätherischer Öle in der Veterinärmedizin. Die unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit der verschiedenen M. pachydermatis-Isolate gegenüber einzelner äther...

Introduction Bacterial pathogens are often involved in dermatitis in reptiles. Exact identification of reptilespecific but otherwise uncommon bacterial species may be challenging. However, identification is crucial to evaluate the importance of the detected bacterial species. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the number of aerobic bacterial isolates cultured from skin-derived samples of reptiles which were not reliably identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and to determine their identity. Material and methods Routine bacterial diagnostics were performed on 235 skin samples, and 417 bacterial isolates were analysed by MALDI-TOF MS. The isolates were grouped into categories based on their first score: category I (� 2.00), category II (� 1.70 and < 2.00), and category III (< 1.70). Isolates from category III were further investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the following criteria were applied: query cover 100%, e-value rounded to 0.0 and sequence identity (%) > 98.00% for genus identification, and > 99.00% for species identification. Results The majority of bacterial isolates were in category I (85.1%) or category II (8.4%). In category III (6.5%) results achieved at first by MALDI-TOF MS corresponded to the results of the molecular analysis in 8.0% of isolates at the species level and in 24.0% at the genus level. Bacterial isolates classified as category III were heterogenic in genus (e.g. Chryseobacterium, Devriesea, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Uruburuella), and some have only been described in reptiles so far.

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Two captive Bocourt water snakes ( Subsessor bocourti) presented with chronic white skin lesions on their heads; Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola was identified by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in skin scrapings from both snakes. Histopathology performed in one Bocourt water snake revealed fungal hyphae in epidermal structures of lesions. One Pueblan milk snake ( Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli) from the same zoologic institution presented with yellow crusts and white blisters on its body, from which O. ophiodiicola was identified by culture and PCR. Two of the three snakes apparently recovered from lesions after multiple natural sheds, whereas the third snake died. This is the first report of O. ophiodiicola infection in Bocourt water snakes and in a Pueblan milk snake, as well as the first report of O. ophiodiicola in France.