title: Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health: Fungal Occurrence in the Hair and Skin of Symptomatic Pets in Turin, Italy.
abstract: Companion animals, often asymptomatic reservoir of fungi, can be important sources of infection in humans, due to the close contact with their owners. The present study was aimed to assess the occurrence of dermatophytes and other fungi isolated from pet dermatological lesions in Turin, Italy. Dermatological specimens were examined for fungal elements by direct microscopy and cultured to detect dermatophytes, other filamentous fungi and yeasts: 247 pets (118 cats, 111 dogs and 18 dwarf rabbits) were positive for fungal detection in culture. Microsporum canis was the most frequent dermatophyte in cats and dogs, whereas Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most common in rabbits. Among the other fungi, for all examined pets, dematiaceous fungi were the most isolated, followed by Mucorales, penicilli, yeasts and yeast-like fungi, and aspergilli. No gender predisposition was detected for dermatophyte growth; on the contrary, for the other fungi male cats were more susceptible than female. The highest fungal occurrence was recorded in <1-year-old cats for dermatophytes, and in <5-year-old cats and dogs for the other fungi. Autumn was the period associated with a relevant incidence of fungal infection. Finally, fungi were more frequent in non pure-breed cats and in pure-breed dogs. These data underline the importance to timely inform pet owners about the potential health risk of infection caused not only by dermatophytes but also by non-dermatophyte fungi, routinely considered to be contaminants or harmless colonizers, since their role as source of zoonotic infections is not to be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allizond
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tullio
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Microbiology Section, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy. annamaria.cuffini@unito.it.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cuffini
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Janira
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roana
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scalas
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa Simona
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piersigilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Narcisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mandras
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, University of Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
keywords: Dermatophytes; Hair and skin lesions; Non-dermatophyte fungi; Pets