Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health: Fungal Occurrence in the Hair and Skin of Symptomatic Pets in Turin, Italy

Abstract

Companion animals, often asymptomatic reservoir of fungi, can be important sources of infection in humans, due to the close contact with their owners. The present study was aimed to assess the occurrence of dermatophytes and other fungi isolated from pet dermatological lesions in Turin, Italy. Dermatological specimens were examined for fungal elements by direct microscopy and cultured to detect dermatophytes, other filamentous fungi and yeasts: 247 pets (118 cats, 111 dogs and 18 dwarf rabbits) were positive for fungal detection in culture. Microsporum canis was the most frequent dermatophyte in cats and dogs, whereas Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most common in rabbits. Among the other fungi, for all examined pets, dematiaceous fungi were the most isolated, followed by Mucorales, penicilli, yeasts and yeast-like fungi, and aspergilli. No gender predisposition was detected for dermatophyte growth; on the contrary, for the other fungi male cats were more susceptible than female. The highest fungal occurrence was recorded in <1-year-old cats for dermatophytes, and in <5-year-old cats and dogs for the other fungi. Autumn was the period associated with a relevant incidence of fungal infection. Finally, fungi were more frequent in non pure-breed cats and in pure-breed dogs. These data underline the importance to timely inform pet owners about the potential health risk of infection caused not only by dermatophytes but also by non-dermatophyte fungi, routinely considered to be contaminants or harmless colonizers, since their role as source of zoonotic infections is not to be excluded.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Zoonotic Dermatophyte Infection in Pet Rabbits in Northern Taiwan

“…The prevalence of dermatophyte infection in pet rabbits (13.9%) in the present study was higher than those detected from veterinary clinics, pet shops, and pet cafés reported in Southern Italy (3.29%), the Netherlands (3.80%), Chile (7.14%), and Thailand (12.1%) [ 11 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. By contrast, the prevalence was lower than those detected from veterinary clinics reported in Northern Italy (27.78%) and Bangladesh (88.89%) [ 7 , 12 ].…”

“…Dermatophytoses are common fungal infections in rabbit farm, laboratory, and pet rabbits [ 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The most common agents of dermatophytoses in rabbits belong to the T. mentagrophytes complex and M. canis species [ 3 , 4 , 8 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Colonización por dermatofitos en conejos mantenidos en tiendas de mascotas de Santiago de Chile

“…Actualmente estos hongos pertenecen a la familia Arthrodermataceae, la cual incluye 9 géneros, filogenética y morfológicamente bien definidos (5), dentro de los cuales Microsporum y Trichophyton son los responsables de la mayoría de las infecciones descritas en animales de compañía y exóticos, tales como perros, gatos, conejos, cuyes, hurones y erizos (1)(2)(3)(4)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Los que al convivir en estrecha relación con seres humanos impactan negativamente en su salud, por el riesgo de transmisión de estos hongos desde un animal infectado o colonizado (4,6,13).…”

“…Currently these fungi belong to the family Arthrodermataceae, which includes 9 well defined phylogenetically and morphologically genera (5), within which Microsporum and Trichophyton are responsible for most of the infections described in pets and exotic animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and hedgehogs (1)(2)(3)(4)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Those that live in a close relationship with human beings have a negative impact on their health, due to the risk of transmitting these fungi from an infected or colonized animal (4,6,13).…”

“…Those that live in a close relationship with human beings have a negative impact on their health, due to the risk of transmitting these fungi from an infected or colonized animal (4,6,13).…”