Diagnosis and comparison of treatment schemes for dermatophytosis in cats in the conditions of the veterinary clinic LLC "Biocenter", Poltava
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2026.29.01.27Keywords:
dermatophytosis, cats, epidemiology, clinical signs, therapeutic efficacyAbstract
Feline dermatophytosis is a zoonotic fungal disease caused primarily by fungi of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. The infection most commonly involves the skin of the face, limbs, and/or tail. In affected animals, dermatophyte infection is characterized by focal alopecia accompanied by erythema and crust formation, a clinical presentation commonly referred to as ringworm. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics of dermatophytosis in cats based on data obtained from the “Biocenter” Veterinary Clinic LLC in the city of Poltava, as well as to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of antimycotic agents in feline dermatophytosis. Overall, during 2023–2024, microscopic and luminescent examinations were performed on 282 samples of pathological material collected from affected animals. Age- and breed-related susceptibility was assessed, while seasonal dynamics were analyzed throughout 2024. Analysis of epidemiological data revealed that the proportion of registered dermatophytosis cases among the total number of animals with infectious pathology accounted for 77.2 % in 2023 and 69.8 % in 2024. Dermatophytosis was diagnosed more frequently in cats under 1 year of age (60.0 %), with mixed-breed animals being the most susceptible (71.0 %). In the structure of feline morbidity, mycoses caused by fungi of the genus Microsporum predominated and were detected in 67.73 % of infected animals. The course of the disease was characterized by pronounced seasonality, with a higher incidence observed during the summer-autumn period. Clinical evaluation of feline dermatomycoses under the conditions of the “Biocenter” Veterinary Clinic in Poltava showed that affected animals exhibited clearly defined lesions predominantly localized on the head, neck, and rump. In cases of the deep form of the disease, extensive areas of involvement with poorly demarcated borders were observed. The developed treatment regimen combining the vaccine “Biofel-M” with the topical preparation “Sanoderm” demonstrated the highest therapeutic efficacy (10 %).
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