Comparison of Adhesive Tape Impression Cytology, Hair Plucks, and Fungal Culture for the Diagnosis of Dermatophytosis in Dogs and Cats

The study evaluated the sensitivity of adhesive tape impression (ATI) cytology compared to hair plucks and fungal culture for diagnosing dermatophytosis in 30 dogs and 15 cats. Dermatophytosis was diagnosed in 82.2% of cases using tape preparations, 66.7% with hair plucks, and 80% with fungal culture. In dogs with kerion, tape preparations and fungal culture showed higher sensitivity (90.9%) than hair plucks (36.4%). Cats showed higher sensitivity than dogs across all tests. No significant difference was found between the three tests, except in dogs with kerion, where hair plucks were less sensitive than fungal culture. ATI cytology proved to be a useful diagnostic tool for dermatophytosis in both dogs with kerion and cats.