Epizootiological and clinical characteristics of bovine dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton verrucosum

Abstract

Dermatophytoses present frequent contagious fungal skin diseases in humans and animals. Zoophyllic types of dermatophytes are almost always present in animals. The dominant dermatophyte specie in cattle and other ruminants is Trichophyton verrucosum of the Family Arthrodermataceae. In the course of this investigation, a total of 566 animals of the Holstein- Friesian breed were examined epizootiologically and clinically. Methods of epizootiological, clinical and laboratory examinations were applied. The material used for laboratory investigations that included direct microscopic examinations including the isolation and identification of the cause, were hair samples and skin scars of cattle suspected of having the infection. Using the described methods, we established and described cattle infection with T. verrucosum in a farm in the district Južnobački okrug, in the Republic of Serbia. A prevalence of cattle skin infection with T. verrucosum of 29.5% was established. In addition to the exhibited charateristic eflorescences that correspond to the clinical picture of dermatophytoses, we also registered the occurrence of hemorrhages, suppurations and necroses. Further epizootiological investigations are necesssary in order to eliminate the source of infection.

Keywords

• Trichophyton verrucosum
• dermatophytes
• infection
• cattle
• diagnostics