Dermatophytosis in red pandas (Ailurus fulgens fulgens): A review of 14 cases

Fourteen cases of dermatophytosis were identified from medical records of r ed pandas Ailurus fulgens fulgens housed at the Knoxville Zoo between 1980 and 1996. The median age of affected animals on initial presentation was 8. 5 wk (3 wk-11 mo). Clinical signs included crusting, purulent exudate, alop ecia, thickening of affected skin, ulceration, and necrosis. Seven animals had mild lesions with signs restricted to crusting and/or alopecia, and six animals had more severe infections, with ulceration, skin necrosis, and pu rulent exudate. Five of the severely affected pandas had tail involvement. The severity of disease affecting one individual was not recorded. Dermatop hytosis was confirmed by culture, cytology, histopathology, or culture foll owed by histopathology. Microsporum gypseum was the only fungal organism cu ltured. Six animals were treated for mild disease, and all clinical signs r esolved. Partial tail amputation was required as part of the treatment regi men for two of the six severely affected animals, and two others had ulcera ted tail lesions that left circumferential scarring after resolution of inf ection. Itraconazole (5 mg/kg p.o. q 12-24 hr) was the most frequently used systemic antifungal agent in animals with severe lesions. All fungal infec tions resolved, although one panda died from unrelated causes early in the treatment period.