Dermatophytosis (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) in a Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli).
A 19-yr-old intact male Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) was evaluated for a crusting facial dermatopathy. Fungal culture and histopathology of skin biopsies were consistent with dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and treatment with the antifungal medication terbinafine was initiated. After 1 mo of treatment, all clinical signs had resolved and a fungal culture of the skin was negative. The sifaka was treated with terbinafine for a total of 81 days. Two additional fungal cultures were taken and found to be negative for the presence of dermatophytes, the last culture being taken 1 mo after discontinuation of terbinafine. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of dermatophytosis in a prosimian species and the first reported treatment of a prosimian with the antifungal drug terbinafine.
Sacramento Zoo, 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento, California 95822, USA. kaphair@gmail.com
Kristen
K
Phair
R Scott
RS
Larsen
Raymund
R
Wack
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D007901:Lemuridae; D008297:Male; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*