Dermatophytosis Associated with Animal Contact: A Clinico-Mycological study.

Dematophytes are classified into geophilic, zoophilic and anthropophilic fungi, based on their ecological traits. Zoophilic dermatophytosis primarily is responsible for infection in animals, and the inflammatory reaction often tends to be more severe than skin lesions inflicted by anthropophilic species. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical and epidemiological zoophilic dermatophytosis associated with animal contact, in an effort to elucidate the link between the causative organism and the route of infection. Method: We performed clinical and mycological study on 109 cases of dermatophytosis out of which 71 were associated with prior animal contact, at the department of dermatology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Dehradun for a period of 18 months. Result: The most common age group to be affected was 21-30 years (24.8%). Tinea corporis was commonest in the age group of 21-30 years (28.8%) and was the commonest presentation in cases with history of having domesticated animals. Out of 71 clinically diagnosed cases of Dermatophytoses with pets , males were more commonly affected (56%) than females (44%). Out of 71 cases with history of domesticated animals fungal isolates were recovered from 38 cases (45%). Out of 38 fungal isolates obtained, Trichophyton species were 57.9% while Microsporum species were 42.1%. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the commonest (39.4%) followed by Microsporum canis (28.9%). In cases of chronic infection and recurrent infections Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the commonest causal isolate causing 23.8% and 23.5% infections respectively.Conclusion: As the leisure and recreational activities of people become more diverse and more extensive, and as the interaction with domestic animals increases, it would be wise for us to strive to come up with an effective strategy for prevention and epidemiological studies.