Occurrence of dermatomycosis (ringworm) due to Trichophyton verrucosum in dairy calves and its spread to animal attendants

Persistent dermatomycosis (ringworm) caused by Trichophyton verrucosum affe cted 20 dairy calves aged between 3 months and 1 year and housed together. The infection also spread to 2 animal attendants working among the calves. The major clinical lesions observed on the affected calves were extensive a lopecia and/or circumscribed thick hairless skin patches affecting the head , neck, flanks and limbs. The observed lesions persisted for more than 17 w eeks and most of the calves did not respond to topical treatment with vario us anti-fungal drugs within the anticipated period of 9 weeks. Two animal a ttendants developed skin lesions that were circumscribed and itchy and ther e was good response to treatment following the application of anti-fungal s kin ointment. Although ringworm in dairy animals in Kenya has not previousl y been associated with spread to humans, the potential is evident from this report.