Microsporum Canis Infection in a Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)
June 2009
TLDR A red fox with skin lesions was cured of a fungal infection after treatment.
A 3-month-old male red fox with multi-focal circular non-pruritic skin lesions and hair loss, primarily on the head and extremities, was diagnosed with Microsporum canis infection after dermatologic tests at the University of Tehran. The fox, which had been in contact with a Persian cat, was treated with topical and systemic ketoconazole for 4 weeks, resulting in complete resolution of the lesions with no recurrence during follow-up. This case highlighted the potential risk of asymptomatic cats carrying M. canis and transmitting it to other animals and humans. This was the first documented report of M. canis infection and its successful treatment in a red fox.
