title: Efficacy of itraconazole as a combined continuous/pulse therapy in feline dermatophytosis: preliminary results in nine cases.
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of itraconazole as a combined continuous/pulse therapy for feline dermatophytosis. Nine cats with dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis were treated with itraconazole at 10 mg kg(-1) orally once daily for 28 days and then on an alternate week regimen (1 week off, 1 week on) at the same dosage. Cats were re-evaluated by physical examination and fungal culture at days 28, 42, 56 and 70 if necessary. Treatment was stopped when two consecutive negative fungal cultures were obtained. Eight cats were cured after 56 days, with two negative cultures obtained at days 28 and 42. In one case, a positive culture was obtained at day 28, but negative cultures were achieved at days 42 and 56. This protocol appears to be effective in the treatment of feline dermatophytosis, although these preliminary results should be confirmed by a controlled study.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale e Clinica Medica Veterinaria - Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, I-20100 Milan, Italy. silvia.colombo@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cornegliani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vercelli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008864:Microsporum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole