Occurrence of dermatophytosis in dogs from Thrissur, Kerala

Abstract

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common skin diseases that affect dogs. Geographic factors like temperature and humidity play an important role in determining prevalence of dermatophytosis. The aim of this study was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic identification of different types of dermatophytes from the dogs presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkali and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy. Skin scrapings and hair were collected from the dogs presented with complaint of alopecia and pruritus. Each sample was cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). The cultures were incubated at room temperature for maximum of four weeks. The isolates of fungi were examined macroscopically and microscopically. Lactophenol cotton blue staining technique was used for fungi morphology identification.The most common type of dermatophytes affecting dogs in Thrissur district, Kerala were Trichophyton spp. (68 per cent), Microsporum spp. (32 per cent) and other non-dermatophytes fungi viz. Aspergillus spp., Sporothrix spp., and curvularia spp. This study could assist investigators for understanding the prevalence of the dermatophytes and in zoonotic aspects.

Keywords

• dermatophytosis
• sabouraud dextrose agar