Etiological, clinical and epidemiological investigations of dermatophytosis among pets in the region of Stara Zagora for the period 2004-2006

The etiological structure of dermatophytoses in pets (dogs and cats) was analyzed using routine mycological techniques. For this purpose, 268 speciments obtained from both dogs and cats with suspected dermatophytoses were investigated. The specimens included crusts, hairs and injured tissues of skin lesions. The mycological study comprised a native microscopy and inoculation on specific nutrient media followed by isolation and species identification. A retrospective analysis was performed on the basis of history, clinical symptoms and the mycological studies. It was found that the presence of positive samples in dogs and cats was 18.6% and 13.2%, respectively. Most commonly, Microsporum canis was isolated in 92.3% of canine and 100% of feline specimens. It was also found that animals aged under 1 year were more susceptible to the examined mycological infections. No significant gender-dependent differences have been observed.