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Superficial Mycoses in Dogs and Cats

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Recent Trends in Human and Animal Mycology

Abstract

Dermatophytosis, Malassezia otitis and dermatitis represent the superficial mycoses with greatest significance in dogs and cats. The causative agents, dermatophytes and Malassezia yeasts, have evolved independently in order to adapt to survival and development within the cutaneous ecosystem. The most prevalent dermatophyte species, Microsporum canis, may cause outbreaks at least in its principal hosts and at the same time have the ability to infect a wide range of mammals, including humans. The non-lipid-dependent species Malassezia pachydermatis is a common cause of otitis externa and pruritic dermatitis in dogs and sometimes in cats. Dermatophytosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of many skin diseases, and diagnostic tests are systematically required in dogs and cats. The diagnosis of Malassezia dermatitis is based on clinical signs and the presence of high number of yeasts in lesional skin together with clinical and mycological responses to a specific therapy. The treatment of superficial mycoses includes the use of topical and systemic antifungals. In case of dermatophytosis, the disinfection of the environment may be required.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique vétérinaire, Le Châtelet en Brie, France

    Ramona Moraru

  2. Department of Parasitology, Mycology and Dermatology, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d’Alfort, Dynamyc Research Group, EnvA, UPEC, USC ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France

    René Chermette & Jacques Guillot

Authors
  1. Ramona Moraru
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  2. René Chermette
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  3. Jacques Guillot
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacques Guillot .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Karuna Singh

  2. Department of Zoology, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Neelabh Srivastava

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Moraru, R., Chermette, R., Guillot, J. (2019). Superficial Mycoses in Dogs and Cats. In: Singh, K., Srivastava, N. (eds) Recent Trends in Human and Animal Mycology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9435-5_2

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