COMPARA O DE MéTODOS DIAGNóSTICOS PARA DERMATOFITOSE EM ANIMAIS DE COMPANHIA

The objective of this study was to compare results of three diagnostic tests for dermatophytosis in 71 dogs and five cats with skin lesions: direct microscopy, fungal culture and the Wood's lamp fluorescence. The agreement between the three tests was evaluated by Kappa coefficient estimates. The sensitivity and specificity of the fluorescence and direct microscopy were calculated based on the results of fungal cultures. Of the 76 dogs and cats evaluated, 18 (23.6%) results in positive cultures. The fungal species isolated were: Microsporum canis (88.8%), Microsporum gypseum (5.5%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes variety mentagrophytes (5.5%). Estimates of Kappa coefficient indicated weak agreement between the three tests. The sensitivity of the direct microscopy and fluorescence at Wood's lamp were respectively 64.71% and 41.18% and specificity of 27.12% and 66.10% respectively. Considering the consequences of false-positive and false-negative results for diagnostic of dermatophytosis, it recommended not to use the three testes separately, but combine them for more reliable results.