A CLINICAL CASE OF MICROSPORUM CANIS DERMATOPHYTOSIS IN A DACHSHUND DOG (Canis lupus familiaris)

Abstract

Dermatophytoses (ringworm) are the commonest superficial mycotic infections of hair and keratinized layers of the epidermis and is caused by keratinophilic and keratinolytic genera such as Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton in dogs and cats.In dogs, nearly 70% of cases are caused by Microsporum canis, 20% by M. gypseum, and 10% by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. A 4 years old female Dachshund dog (Canis lupus familiaris) referred to the Shahedul Alam Quadary Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH) of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) with multi-focal circular non-pruritic skin lesions and hair loss mainly on the trunk and legs. A complete series of dermatologic tests such as Wood’s light examination, direct microscopic examination, and fungal culture were performed. Wood’s lamp showed an apple-green fluorescent on the infected area. Skin scrapings and plucked hair samples were collected from a skin lesion of affected dog and were subjected to direct microscopic examination and fungal culture. No ectothrix spores and arthrospores were revealed in direct microscopic examination. On Saboraud dextrose agar, cottony spreading colonies with yellowish pigmentation were observed which showed large thick walled macroconidia on lactophenol cotton blue staining. Microscopic examination and cultural characteristics were suggestive of Microsporum canis. The dog was firstly treated with Fluconazole orally for 7 days and Whitfield Ointment for 14 days followed by Itraconazole orally for a period of 21days and ketoconazole topical for one month, respectively. Two and half months after treatments the dog showed reduction of lesions.