Clinical Quiz No. 2: Dermatophycosis in Animals

Dermatophycosis was a fungal infection of the epidermis characterized by painless dermatitis, circular hair loss, and thick gray crusts on the face, neck, and back, caused by dermatophyte fungi. It spread through direct contact with infected animals and affected various species globally, especially cattle, sheep, horses, and camels. Diagnosis involved microscopic examination and culturing. Infected cattle often recovered spontaneously, but treatment options included washing or spraying with lime sulfur, sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, or antifungal agents like miconazole or clotrimazole, leading to recovery in about 10 days. Control measures included cleaning and disinfecting animal environments, and a live attenuated fungal vaccine was available in the U.S.