Epidemiology clinic and treatment of dermatomycoses caused by zoophilic dermatophytes

In the last 50 years the spectrum of agents of dermatophytoses changed. The change is remarkable especially in the case of zoophilic dermatophytes. Mi crosporum canis has displaced Trichophyton verrucosum. In the period from 1 966 to 1970 2822 dermatophytoses were registrated as occupational dermatose s in the former German Democratic Republic. In the following years the numb er of these diseases was continuously reduced, between 1981 and 1985 down t o 995 cases. This reduction is predominantly the result of active immunopro phylaxis by means of inactivated, hydrolized vaccines, mainly by the Soviet live vaccine LTF-130, The scientific basis of this vaccination was establi shed by Kielstein and co-workers. The treatment of Microsporum canis infect ion of the scalp requires the administration of systemically acting antimyc otics over a long period (6-8 weeks).