Microsporum canis on dermatologically healthy cats in Temuco city, Chile

Background: Microsporum canis is the most common cause of feline dermatophytosis and the most pathogenic fungus isolated from the skin and hair of healthy cats. Cats are considered to be the natural reservoir and infection sourse of this disease in human and domestic animals. Aims: Knowing the M. canis frequency in the dermatological healthy cat population of Temuco city, Chile. Methods: Fifty cat samples were collected irrespective sex or race. Cats' ages were between 2 months and 12 years old, and the animals were treated at the Veterinary Clinical Hospital of the Universidad Catolica de Temuco, or in three private clinics from this city. Tissue and hair samples were collected using two sampling techniques: hair extracting tweezers and the Mariat & Tapia method. For the clinical diagnosis, the Wood's lamp was used. Hairs were microscopically observed followed by a culture using Sabouraud agar and Lactrimel agar. M.canis was isolated in 30 cats (60%). Results: There were no statistically significative differences when parameters such as age, sex and race were taking into account Differences between the use of Sabouraud agar and Lactrimel agar were not registered. It was determined that the Mariat & Tapia method was able to detect more dermatophytes than the collecting tweezers method. These differences were statistically significative. Conclusions: The percentage of M. canis isolation obtained in this work remarks the role of healthy cats in the transmission of these dermatophytes to humans and other animals.Original Abstract: Antecedentes: Microsporum canis es el agente etiologico mas comun de dermatofitosis en gatos y es el hongo mas aislado de la piel y del pelo de este felino sano, lo que indica que actuaria como reservorio y diseminador de la enfermedad. Objetivos: Conocer la frecuencia de M. canis en la poblacion de gatos dermatologicamente sanos de Temuco, Chile. Metodos: Se tomaron muestras a 50 felinos, sin distincion de sexo y de raza, cuyas edades oscilaron entre los 2 meses y los 12 anos, que habian acudido al Hospital Clinico Veterinario de la Universidad Catolica de Temuco y a 3 clinicas privadas de esta ciudad. La toma de muestras de piel y pelos se realizo mediante pinza para extraction de pelos y con el metodo del tapete de Mariat y Tapia. Para el diagnostico clinico complementario se utilizo la lampara de Wood. Se realizo, ademas, examen microscopico directo de pelos y posterior cultivo en agar Sabouraud y agar Lactrimel. Resultados: En