title: Survey of haircoat fungal flora for the presence of dermatophytes in a population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Virginia.
abstract: Before releasing rehabilitated wildlife, patients should be cured of all infectious agents that pose a risk to free-roaming wildlife or humans after release. Dermatophyte fungi, commonly known as "ringworm," have zoonotic potential and may be carried as normal flora on the haircoats of certain species. Outbreaks of ringworm are anecdotally reported to occur in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns, but no prevalence surveys have been conducted on the haircoat flora of free-roaming individuals. In November 2008, we tested 60 legally hunted white-tailed deer for dermatophyte flora by using a modified MacKenzie technique. Results indicate it is unlikely that wild, mature white-tailed deer in Virginia, USA, carry dermato-phyte fungi as normal haircoat flora. Therefore, wildlife rehabilitators and hunters are at low risk for dermatophyte infection by direct contact with this species. In addition, the RapidVet-D 3 Day Test for Veterinary Dermatophytosis was determined to have poor specificity for presence of dermatophyte fungi on asymptomatic white-tailed deer in Virginia.
authors: The University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center, 2015 SW 16th Ave., PO Box 100101, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0101, USA. halln@ufl.edu
authors: Natalie H
authors: NH
authors: Hall
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Swinford
authors: Dave
authors: D
authors: McRuer
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003670:Deer; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014005:Tinea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology