Prevalence of Dermatophytes in Private Household Cats

Abstract

The present study determined the prevalence of dermatophytes 216 private household cats with or without skin lesions, using a culture method. Dermatophytes were detected in three cats (1.4%). The prevalence did not significantly differ according to cutaneous lesion (with or without), age (< 1 year old or ≥ 1 year old), outside activity (positive or negative), or hair condition (short hair or long hair). All of the isolated dermatophytes were identified as Microsporum canis through direct sequencing of amplicons obtained from PCR targeting the chitin synthase 1 gene.