Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
XV. Ulusal Veteriner Mikrobiyoloji Kongresi (Uluslararası Katılımlı), Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, 26 - 28 Ekim 2022, ss.27
Dermatophytosis is a frequent zoonosis worldwide. This infection is cutaneous mycosis of keratinized tissues in humans and pets caused by Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton genera. Pets are an important source of transmission of dermatophytes to humans. Therefore, determination of pet's fungal infections is important for public health, as well as animal health. Aim: This study aimed to detect the prevalence and diversity of fungal agents isolated from hair and skin of domestic cats. Method: A total of 104 samples (65 hair and 39 skin swab samples with dermatophytosis suspicion) were collected from domestic cats, in the period of 2019-2021. Mycological analyses were performed by direct microscopy and culture method. Direct microscopy were conducted using 10% potassium hydroxide preparations. Fungal cultures were obtained on Sabouraoud dextrose agar plates. Macroscopic examination of cultures (colony morphology, growth and surface pigmentation) was performed. Microscopic examination (hyphae, macroconidia and microconidia) was completed using lactophenol cotton blue staining and 40x magnification of light microscopy. Results: Fungal agents were isolated in 71.2% (74/104) of all samples. Totally 87 different fungal agents were isolated due to multiple-fungal isolation in 9.6% (10/104) of the samples. Dermatophytes were isolated in 24% (25/104) of all samples: Microsporum spp., was the most prevalent dermatophyte (16.3%) (17/104) while Trichophyton spp., found in 7.7% (8/104). The prevalence of dermatophytes was relatively higher in spring (64%, 16/25) than in summer (20%, 5/25), fall and winter (8%, 2/25). Saprophyte isolates were found in 47.1% (49/104) of all samples: respectively Aspergillus spp. 24% (25/104), Penicillium spp. 19.2% (20/104), Alternaria spp. 13.5% (14/104), and Mucor spp., 2.9% (3/104). Conclusion: In this study, fungal agents were isolated approximately in three out of every four cats. It was detected that saprophytes were more common than dermatophytes. It was determined that dermatophytosis was more prevalent in the rainy spring season in our country. These findings emphasize the prevalence and diversity of fungal agents, epidemiological potential of domestic cats in spreading of dermatophytes to humans and importance of regular veterinary check-ups in domestic cats.