Epidemiologic and Molecular Characterization of Zoonotic Dermatophytes from Pet Dogs and Cats in Egypt
January 2021
in “
Advances in animal and veterinary sciences
”
TLDR Pets in Egypt can pass skin fungus, especially Microsporum canis, to humans, with outdoor and young pets being more at risk.
The study conducted in Egypt from July 2018 to September 2019 included 245 dogs, 180 cats, and 60 humans and aimed to determine the prevalence of dermatophytes among them. It found that 20.4% of dogs, 16.1% of cats, and 31.6% of humans were infected with dermatophytes, with Microsporum canis being the most common in dogs (10.2%) and the only one in cats (8.3%). Outdoor pets had higher infection rates than indoor pets, and puppies were particularly susceptible. In humans, M. canis showed the highest zoonotic potential, especially among people aged 11-30 years and pet workers. The study concluded that there is a significant risk of zoonotic transmission of dermatophytes, particularly M. canis, from pets to humans, and highlighted the importance of molecular techniques for diagnosis.
