Clinico-therapeutic studies on mycotic dermatitis of dogs

Abstract

Incidence of mycotic dermatitis among the total canine cases presented at the University Veterinary ,Hospitals, Kokkalai and Mannuthy for a period from September 1996 to August 1998 was found to be 5.13 per cent. Among the total dermatological disorders 28.72 per cent had mycotic dermatitis. Age, breed and sex wise incidence were collected. This showed an increased incidence in adult dogs, mostly in German Shepherds and that too in females. Detailed clinical examination revealed scaliness, alopecia, pruritus and erythema in all cases. Lesions were r:' mainly localized, extremely variable in configuration and majority were distributed on head and limbs. Skin scrapings collected and examined under microscope showed the presence of ectothrix arrangement of fungal spores. Mean total and differential count of leukocytes were found to be within the normal range for all cases. A total of four dermatophytes and 17 non-dermatophytes were isolated by fungal culture. Dermatophytes isolated were three Microsporum gypseum and one Trichophyton mentagrophytes spp. Non-dermatophytes isolated were eight Penicillium, six Aspergillus and three Rhizopus spp.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests on the fungal isolates obtained showed a high sensitivity to cinnamon oil at a dilution of 1 in 10, followed by ketoconazole at 20 ~g and Sphaeranthus indicus extract at 50 mg concentrations. Response to treatment trials conducted on dogs with mycotic dermatitis using ketoconazole o i.nt.ment; showed therapeutic response in five out of seven cases. No response was noticed in dogs even after the course of tr~atment with S. indicus extract. Complete recovery was noticed in all animals treated with cinnamon oil.