Dermatophytosis due to Microsporum persicolor (13 cases) or Microsporum gypseum (20 cases) in dogs

A retrospective study of 20 cases of dermatophytosis due to Microsporum gypseum and 13 cases due to Microsporum persicolor seen over an 8‐year period is reported. These skin diseases are rare (1.3% of our canine case load) and pleomorphic, from localized erythematous and squamous or suppurative lesions (kerions) to extensive or generalized erythematous, alopecic, scaling, crusting and eventually papular and pustular dermatoses. Such dermatophytoses are diagnosed by fungal culture, and in some instances rapidly by dermatohistopathology with periodic acid‐Schiff staining (3/3 cases of Microsporum gypseum infection and 5/7 cases of Microsporum persicolor infection). Therapy with topical and/or systemic azole derivatives (topical enilconazole, miconazole, econazole and systemic ketoconazole, respectively) was successful in all cases, with only two relapses, which were easily controlled.