Diagnosis and treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology.

Vet Dermatol. June 2017;28(3):266-e68.

Karen A Moriello¹, Kimberly Coyner², Susan Paterson³, Bernard Mignon⁴

¹ Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.; ² Dermatology Clinic for Animals, 8300 Quinault Drive NE Suite A, Lacey, WA, 98516, USA.; ³ Department of Veterinary Dermatology, Rutland House Referral Hospital, Abbotsfield Road, St Helens, WA9 4HU, UK.; ⁴ Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Mycology, FARAH (Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10, B43A, 4000, Liège, Belgium.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal skin disease of cats and dogs. The most common pathogens of small animals belong to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. It is an important skin disease because it is contagious, infectious and can be transmitted to people.

OBJECTIVES:The objective of this document is to review the existing literature and provide consensus recommendations for veterinary clinicians and lay people on the diagnosis and treatment of dermatophytosis in cats and dogs.

METHODS:The authors served as a Guideline Panel (GP) and reviewed the literature available prior to September 2016. The GP prepared a detailed literature review and made recommendations on selected topics. The World Association of Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD) provided guidance and oversight for this process. A draft of the document was presented at the 8th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology (May 2016) and was then made available via the World Wide Web to the member organizations of the WAVD for a period of three months. Comments were solicited and posted to the GP electronically. Responses were incorporated by the GP into the final document.

CONCLUSIONS:No one diagnostic test was identified as the gold standard. Successful treatment requires concurrent use of systemic oral antifungals and topical disinfection of the hair coat. Wood's lamp and direct examinations have good positive and negative predictability, systemic antifungal drugs have a wide margin of safety and physical cleaning is most important for decontamination of the exposed environments. Finally, serious complications of animal-human transmission are exceedingly rare.

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