Perspectives of vaccination against dermatophytosis in dogs and cats

The development of vaccines against animal dermatophytosis has been propose d both for economical and epidemiological reasons, i.e. to reduce the reser voir of the zoonotic agents causing the disease. Immunoprophylaxis appears to be an adequate tool for the controle of dermatophytosis. Indeed an infec tion by a dermatophyte generally induces the development of a protective im munity against reinfection. Since the end of the sixties, trials of immuniz ation against dermatophytosis were performed. To date only a single live va ccine against cattle ringworm has been used with success. The design of an effective vaccine against dermatophytosis appears to require the induction of cellular rather than humoral immunity. Recent progress in vaccinology, p articularly in the field of subunit vaccines and adjuvants, as well as a be tter understanding of the pathogenesis of dermatophytosis could allow furth er development of effective vaccines against these diseases, notably in dog s and cats.