engleski

Dermatophytosis-companion animal associated risk

Companion animals can transmit numerous infectious diseases. Among them are dermatophytoses, the most common infectious skin diseases caused by filamentous fungi, dermatophytes. Various dermatophyte species occurring primarily in animals may be transmissible to man and can produce human diseases, which are often difficult to treat. Infected animals are continual source of infection, as hairs covered with spores break off into the environment. Transmission occurs through direct contact with animal or fungal spores shed in the environment. Animal holders usually become infected through petting the animals, cleaning of spore contaminated bedding or even sharing a sleeping place. Animals (mostly cats) may be asymptomatic carriers, which do not show signs of disease themselves, but can infect others. Certain categories of people with reduced immune capacity like young children, elderly or highly stressed people, HIV+ people, people on chemotherapy or taking medication after transfusion or organ transplant, are at greater risk of contracting an infection. According to the data collected at the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, the problem of dermatophytoses in companion animals has been on the rise continuously, especially in the last decades. Most frequently kept pets are still dogs and cats from which Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum were most commonly isolated species. Nevertheless, the number of exotic pets like hamsters, rabbits, guinnea pigs, ferrets, degus, chinchillas and hedgehogs has recently significantly increased in Croatia. Apart from the above mentioned dermatophyte species, from these animal species Microsporum persicolor and Trichophyton erinacei were also isolated. As exotic pets are becoming even more popular, we should be aware that such animals are often carriers of these fungal pathogens.

dermatophytoses; zoonosis; pets

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