DERMATOPHYTOZOONOSES IN ISMAILIA CITY

A total of 160 animals of various species, apparently healthy (116) and animals showing characteristic lesions of ringworm (44) were examined mycologically. In the apparently healthy animals, 10 (8.6%) out of 116 animals were had dermatophytes, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton verrucosum. Fungal elements of Microsporum canis were recorded in 30% of cats and Trichophyton verrucosum in 6.5% of cattle, 6.7% of sheep and 8.3% in goats without showing any sings of ringworm. There was no dermatophytic fungi in apparently healthy buffaloes and camels. Among the animal showing ringworm lesions, Microsporum canis infections were found in 80% of cats and the anthropophilic Trichophyton violaceum was isolated from a case of ringworm in cat. The zoophilic Trichophyton verrucosum isolated of 69.2% of cattle, 30% of sheep, 50% of goats and 33.3% of buffaloes and camels. Contact with infected cattle and fomites contaminates by the cattle are believed to have caused the infection in the other farm animals. In human patients showing characteristic lesions of dermatophytosis and had a history of animal contact; 30 (73.2%) of 44 humans had dermatophytes; Microsporum canis (24 strains) and Trichophyton verrucosum (4 strains). Children were more affected with Tinea capitis and Tinea corporis caused by the zoophilic Microsporum canis than adults. There was no evidence to support sex predisposition.