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

Abstract

Dermatophytes are the group of keratinophilic fungi that cause superficial cutaneous infection, which traditionally belong to the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Dermatophyte infection is not only a threat to the health of small animals, but also an important zoonotic and public health issue because of the potential transmission from animals to humans. Rabbit dermatophytosis is often clinically identified; however, limited information was found in Asia. The aims of this study are to investigate the prevalence and to evaluate the risk factors of dermatophytosis in pet rabbits in Northern Taiwan. Between March 2016 and October 2018, dander samples of pet rabbits were collected for fungal infection examination by Wood’s lamp, microscopic examination (KOH preparation), fungal culture, and PCR assay (molecular identification). Z test and Fisher’s exact test were performed to evaluate the potential risk factors, and logistic regression analysis was then performed to build the model of risk factors related to dermatophyte infection. Of the collected 250 dander samples of pet rabbits, 29 (11.6%) samples were positive for dermatophytes by molecular identification. In those samples, 28 samples were identified as the T. mentagrophytes complex and 1 sample was identified as M. canis. Based on the results of the Firth’s bias reduction logistic analyses, animal source (rabbits purchased from pet shops) and number of rearing rabbits (three rabbits or more) were shown as the main risks for dermatophyte infection in the pet rabbits in Taiwan. The results of the present study elucidate the prevalence of rabbit dermatophyte infection, pathogens, and risk factors in Taiwan, and provide an important reference for the prevention and control of rabbit dermatophytosis.

Fungal Flora in Asymptomatic Pet Guinea Pigs and Rabbits

“…A study made by Chang [ 39 ] confirmed the prevalence of dermatophyte infection in pet rabbits at 13.9%. In the present study, the prevalence was higher than those detected in veterinary clinics, pet shops, and pet cafés reported in Southern Italy (3.29%), the Netherlands (3.80%), Chile (7.14%), and Thailand (12.1%) [ 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. By contrast, the prevalence was lower than those detected in veterinary clinics reported in Northern Italy (27.78%) and Bangladesh (88.89%) [ 43 , 44 ].…”

“…M. canis (54.8%), T. mentagrophytes (14.7%), and T. verrucosum (8.1%) were the species that were found most often [ 37 ]. In a study done in Brazil, T. rubrum (33.3%), T. tonsurans (13.1%), T. verrucosum (11.1%), T. interdigitale (9.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (6.1%) were found to be the most common types of dermatophytes [ 38 ]. A study made by Chang [ 39 ] confirmed the prevalence of dermatophyte infection in pet rabbits at 13.9%.…”

Preparation and evaluation of the immune response of non-adjuvanted polyvalent dermatophyte vaccines with elucidation of the role of the dermatophyte keratinases in dermatophytosis

“…Dermatophytes as a closely related keratinolytic group of fungi with special mentioning of T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, and M. canis which are considered the most predominantly isolated dermatophyte species from animals infected with super cial mycosis. Dermatophytosis represent an economically important health problem in both productive and pet animals and on the other hand a series zoonotic threat to human, particularly children and especially nowadays, due to the habitually increased animal-human companionships [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

ITS-RFLP optimization for dermatophyte identification from clinical sources in Alagoas (Brazil) versus phenotypic methods

“…According to their ecological habitat, dermatophytes are classified as anthropophilic, geophilic, or zoophilic, and can cause dermatophytosis in humans, as well as in small and large animals, configuring an important zoonotic and public health problems due to the potential risk of transmission from animals to humans [6,7], which can be amplified with the transmission between domestic animals. Etiological agent identification is essential for epidemiological purposes and accurate infection management since there is clinical significance: anthropophilic species cause more chronic and non-inflammatory dermatophytosis, while zoo-geophilic species cause acute and inflammatory mycoses [2].…”