DERMATOPHYTES FROM CASES OF SKIN-DISEASE IN CATS AND DOGS IN TURIN, ITALY

In urban environments, pet animals such as dogs and cats may be largel y responsible for the progressive increase of zoophilic over anthropop hilic dermatophytes in the aetiology of human dermatophytoses. Mapping , in each city, of the natural foci of zoophilic dermatophytes may thu s be important for understanding the epidemiology of human dermatophyt oses, and for planning preventive measures. We have surveyed dogs and cats suspected of carrying dermatophytic lesions in the Turin area. Ha irs, skin scrapings and the contents of pustules or vesicles were inoc ulated on Dermasel agar supplemented with chloramphenicol and cyclohex imide. The mating type of the isolates was checked, testing their comp atibility with the two mating types of Arthroderma simii Stockdale, Ma ckenzie and Austwick. We isolated dermatophytes from about 40% of the cases examined. Microsporum cants Bodin was the only dermatophyte foun d in the lesions. In the cats the lesions were more frequent, in the d ogs more severe. Animals less than a year old and male dogs were most often affected. Some cases of transmission of the infection between an imals and from animals to man are described. All the isolates of M. ca nis, tested for mating behaviour, were non-reactive.