Dermatophytosis in Cats
Dermatophytosis is the medical term for a parasitic fungal infection affecting the skin, hair, and/or nails (claws). The most commonly isolated fungal organisms are Microsporum canis (more commonly referred to as ringworm), Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum. This disease occurs in dogs, cats, and other mammals. In cats, these infections are more common in long-haired breeds than short-haired breeds. It is also diagnosed more commonly in young animals than in old.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects dogs please visit this page in the PetMD pet health library.
Symptoms and Types
Symptoms of dermatophytosis include accumulations of surface skin cells, such as seen in dandruff (scales); poor hair coat; reddened skin (erythema); darkened skin (hyperpigmentation); itchiness (pruritus); and hair loss (alopecia), which may be patchy or circular. The classic sign of circular hair loss is most commonly seen in cats. Other indications of dermatophytosis that are readily apparent on the skin are raised, rounded, knotty (nodular) lesions known as granulomatous lesions, or boils, and raised nodular lesions that frequently ooze (kerions), the result of ringworm infection. There may also be inflammation of the claw folds -- the folds of skin bordering the nail, and medically referred to as paronychia.
Occasionally, cats are classified as inapparent carriers -- harboring the disease-causing fungus, but presenting no visible signs of the condition. However, even these cats are contagious to humans or other animals.
Causes
The fungal parasite Microsporum canis (or ringworm) is by far the most common cause of dermatophytosis in cats. The incidence of each fungus varies according to your geographical location.
Diseases or medications that decrease the body's ability to develop a normal immune response (known as immunocompromising diseases, or immunosuppressive medications, respectively) can increase the likelihood that your cat will be susceptible to a fungal infection of the skin, hair, and/or nails, as well as increase the potential for a more severe infection. Environments that are densely populated with animals (for example, in a cattery or animal shelter), or where there is poor nutrition, poor management practices, and lack of adequate quarantine period, will also increase risk of infection.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a fungal culture of skin clippings, a microscopic examination of a sample of hair, and possibly a skin biopsy.
Treatment
Most cats can be treated on an outpatient basis, but quarantine procedures should be considered due to the infective and zoonotic (transmittable to humans) nature of some types of dermatophytosis. If your veterinarian needs to prescribe anti-fungal medications, the use of an Elizabethan collar (a wide collar placed around the neck) is recommended to prevent ingestion of anti-fungal medications applied to your cat's skin.
Living and Management
A fungal culture is the only means of truly monitoring your cat's response to treatment. Many animals will improve clinically with treatment, but may remain fungal culture positive. It is advisable to repeat fungal cultures toward the end of treatment, and continue treatment until at least one culture result is negative. In resistant cases, fungal cultures may be repeated on a weekly basis, and treatment continued until two to three consecutive negative results are obtained. Complete blood counts should be performed weekly or biweekly for cats receiving griseofulvin, an anti-fungous antibiotic. Also, blood work to monitor liver changes may be indicated for cats receiving ketoconazole or itraconazole, two types of anti-fungal medications.
Prevention
To prevent reinfection from other animals, the use of a quarantine period and fungal (dermatophyte) cultures of all animals living in the household are necessary. Treatment of exposed animals should be considered to prevent repeated development of infection. The possibility of rodents aiding in the spread of the disease should also be considered. If you suspect that your cat has access to rodents, or that rodents are in your immediate environment, it is highly advised that you take the necessary steps to eliminate the pests.