Authors : Gamze Alpun and N. Yakut Ozgur
Abstract: A total of 162 hair and skin scraping specimens from suspected dermatophytosis and clinically healthy cats, from Istanbul, Turkey, were examined to detect cats with Microsporum canis infection and its asymptomatic carriage. The mycological analyses were conducted by direct microscopy and by fungal culture on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Dermatophyte Test Medium. M. canis was isolated from 22 of the 62 (35.48%) cats with suspected dermatophytosis. One hundred cats were clinically healthy without dermatological signs and M. canis was isolated from 11 (11%) cats. In all studied groups, the percentage of positive samples were found to be higher in the cats that were 1 and <1 year of age compared with the elders while, the difference was found statistically significant in cats with suspected dermatophytosis (p = 0.011). In males, the differences between the sexes and M. canis isolation rates in the total examined cats and in clinically healthy cats were statistically significant (p = 0.007 p = 0.001, respectively). Although, no statistically significance was found between M. canis isolation rates and seasonal differences in all studied groups, M. canis infection was determined to be higher in spring and summer while, asymptomatic carriage was determined to be higher in autumn.
Gamze Alpun and N. Yakut Ozgur , 2009. Mycological Examination of Microsporum canis Infection in Suspected Dermatophytosis of Owned and Ownerless Cats and its Asymptomatic Carriage. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 803-806.