Diagnosis of Fungal and Parasitic Dermatopathies in Dogs and Cats of Paraíba State, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to diagnose fungal and parasitic dermatopathies, describing its casuistry in dogs and cats at the Veterinary Hospital (VH) of the Instituto Federal da Paraíba (IFPB), Sousa, Paraíba. The study was carried out at the Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases (LIID) and at the Small Animal Medical Clinic (SAMC), VH/IFPB, Sousa, Paraíba, Brazil. Fifty-eight animals with skin lesions, including 41 dogs and 17 cats, were evaluated. Samples from the lesions were processed, resulting in 12.2% (5/41) of dogs testing positive for dermatophytes; 60% (3/5) of those cases were confirmed with Microsporum canis infections. For scabies, 24.4% (10/ 41) of dogs tested positive; of these, 80% (8/10, p≤0.05) had Demodex canis infections. In cats, 17.6% (3/17) were positive for dermatophytes; of these, 67% (2/3) were confirmed to have Microsporum gypseum infections. The positive testing rate for scabies in cats was 17.6% (3/17); of these, 67% (2/3) were Notoedres cati infections. In one cat, a concomitant infection was found witha dermatophyte (M. gypseum) and scabies (N. cati). It was concluded that the occurrence of dermatopathies is high at the SAMC/VH/IFPB. The main dermatophytes found were M. canis in dogs and M. gypseum in cats, and the most frequent scabies were D. canis in dogs and N. cati in cats. KEY-WORDS: Demodex spp.; dermatomycoses; Microsporium spp; Notoedres sp., scabies. RESUMO O objetivo desse trabalho foi diagnosticar as dermatopatias fúngicas e parasitárias, descrevendo a casuística dessas enfermidades em cães e gatos no Hospital Veterinário do Instituto Federal da Paraíba -IFPB, campus Sousa, Paraíba-PB. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Imunologia e Doenças Infectocontagiosas -LIDIC e na Clínica Médica de Pequenos Animais -CMPA, HV/IFPB. Foram avaliados 58 animais, sendo 41 cães e 17 gatos. As amostras coletadas para as análises laboratoriais foram pelos e crostas das lesões. Obtiveram-se 12,2% (5/41) dos cães positivos para dermatófitos, destes, 60% (3/5) para Microsporum canis. Para sarnas, 24,4% (10/41) dos cães foram positivos, em 80% (8/10; p≤0,05) a infestação era por Demodex canis. Nos gatos, 17,6% (3/17) foram positivos para dermatófitos, destes, 67% (2/3) Microsporum gypseum. A positividade para sarnas em gatos foi 17,6% (3/17), destes, 67% (2/3) para Notoedres cati. Em apenas um felino foi encontrada infecção concomitante entre dermatófito (M. gypseum) e sarna (N.cati). Concluiu-se que é alta a casuística de dermatopatias na CMPA/HV/IFPB. O principal dermatófito encontrado em cães foi M. canis e em gatos M. gypseum. Dentre as sarnas Demodex spp. foi a mais frequente para cães e Notoedres sp. para gatos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Demodex spp.; Dermatomicose;, Microsporium spp.; Notoedressp.; sarnas.