Presence and importance of saprophyte fungal organisms on dog skin

The objective of this work was mycology examination of scarifications and skin swabs from dogs with clinical symptoms. The aim was to find out which fungi species can be isolated from the changed parts of the skin, and whether is possible that, besides dermatophyte, saprophyte fungi from the environment may also be the cause of the changes, and to reveal their effect on the host. During a one year period, 67 swabs and scarifications from dogs were examined to detect the presence of fungi. From 59, of total 67 samples, the following saprophyte fungi were isolated: Aspergillus sp. Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp., Mucor sp., and Fusarium sp. Occurrence of these fungi means that a considerable increase of this microbiological flora may be expected in homes of the owners. This may be the cause of systemic mycosis and allergies in animals and humans, as well as a possibility of contaminated food and incidence of mycotoxicosis.