Dermatophyte colonization in rabbits kept in pet stores of Santiago of Chile

Colonización por dermatofitos en conejos mantenidos en tiendas de mascotas de Santiago de Chile

Objective: The dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi, of importance in public health because of their anthropozoophilic nature. Given the increasing acquisition of exotic animals as pets and the scarce studies on the state of colonization by dermatophytes on these animals; we raised the objective of determine the presence of dermatophytes in clinically healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from pet stores in Santiago, Chile. Materials and Methods: 42 clinically healthy rabbits were studied. Clinical specimens were obtained from the hairy mantle and cultivated on Sabouraud glucose agar and dermatophyte test medium (DTM™); the identification of the fungal isolates was performed using classic mycological procedures that included direct microscopic examination and the analysis of micromorphological features on culture. Results: of the total number of rabbits studied, three (7.1%) presented colonization by dermatophytes, being more frequent in males and in those animals that coexisted with Guinea Pigs. The species identified in all three cases was Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Conclusions: This study evidence colonization by dermatophytes in domestic rabbits, important information for veterinarians and owners of pets, at the time of being in contact with this animal species.

1. Cafarchia C, Camarda A, Coccioli C, Figueredo LA, Circella E, Danesi P, et al. Epidemiology and risk factors for dermatophytoses in rabbit farms. Med Mycol 2010; 48(7):975-980. https://doi.org/10.3109/13693781003652620
3. Nweze EI. Dermatophytoses in domesticated animals. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2011; 53(2):94-99 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652011000200007
5. Kraemer A, Hein J, Heusinger A, Mueller RS. Clinical signs, therapy and zoonotic risk of pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis. Mycoses 2013; 56(2):168-172 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0507.2012.02228.x
7. d'Ovidio D, Santoro D. Survey of zoonotic dermatoses in client-owned exotic pet mammals in Southern Italy. Zoonoses Public Health 2015; 62(2):100-104 https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12100
9. de Hoog, G.S., Dukik, K., Monod, M. et al. Mycopathologia 2017; 182:5-31 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-016-0073-9
11. Torres J, Martínez A. Importance of rabbits as source of human tinea. Medical Mycology 2008; 15(2):89-94
13. Cafarchia C, Weigl S, Figueredo LA, Otranto D. Molecular identification and phylogenesis of dermatophytes isolated from rabbit farms and rabbit farm workers. Vet Microbiol 2012; 154(3-4):395-402 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.09.008
15. Kraemer A, Mueller RS, Werckenthin C, Straubinger RK, Hein J. Dermatophytes in pet guinea pigs and rabbits. Vet Microbiol 2012; 25(1-2):208-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.12.005
17. Dabrowska I, Dworecka B, Brillowska A. The use of a one-step PCR method for the identification of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection of pets. Acta Biochim Pol 2014; 61(2):375-378
19. d'Ovidio D, Grable SL, Ferrara M, Santoro D. Prevalence of dermatophytes and other superficial fungal organisms in asymptomatic guinea pigs in Southern Italy. J Small Anim Pract 2014; 55(7):355-358 https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12216
21. Thomson P, Monsalves P, Maier L, Silva V. Dermatophyte colonization on guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) kept in pet stores. First report from Santiago, Chile. Rev Iberoam Micol 2015; 32(2):103-105 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riam.2013.10.012
23. Mesquita JR, Vasconcelos-Nóbrega C, Oliveira J, Coelho C, Vala H, Fratti M, et al. Epizootic and epidemic dermatophytose outbreaks caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes from rabbits in Portugal, 2015. Mycoses 2016; 59(10):668-673. https://doi.org/10.1111/myc.12513
25. Allizond V, Tullio V, Cuffini AM, Roana J, Scalas D, Marra ES, et al. Advances in microbiology, infectious diseases and public health: fungal occurrence in the hair and skin of symptomatic pets in Turin, Italy. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016; 897:55-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_5004
27. de Hoog GS, Guarro J, Gené J, Figueras M. Atlas of clinical fungi. 2nd ed. CentralBureau voor Schimmecultures, Utrecht, The Netherland; 2000.
29. Zaror L, Casas S. Microsporum canis in healthy angora rabbits (Valdivia, Chile). Zentralbl Veterinarmed B 1988; 35(3):204-206.