Dermatophytes and saprobe fungi isolated from dogs and cats in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil

RESUMO

The possible involvement of saprobe fungi in dermatomycoses, as well as the determination of the incidence of dermatophytes in dogs and cats were studied. During a period of one year, 74 dogs and 18 cats, with cutaneous lesions suggesting mycoses were included in this study. The mycological analyses were conducted by direct microscopy and by fungal culture on Sabouraud agar, chloramphenicol Sabouraud agar and mycosel agar. Of the 92 samples, 21 resulted in positive cultures for dermatophytes. Dematophyte fungi pure cultures were obtained from 13 samples. A simultaneous growth of dermatophytes plus saprobe fungi was observed in 8 of the samples. Of the remaining 71 samples, no fungal growth was observed in 10 samples, and at minimum the growth of one saprobe fungi in 61. One, two and three genera of saprobe were isolated in 29, 30 and 2 samples, respectively. Microsporum canis was isolated in 6 (28.6 per cent) and 10 samples (47.6 per cent) from cats and dogs, respectively, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 2 (9.5 per cent) and 3 samples (14.3 per cent) from cats and dogs, respectively. The following genera of saprobe fungi were also isolated Alternaria sp (1.9 per cent), Chaetomium sp (1.9 per cent), Rhizopus sp (2.9 per cent), Curvularia sp (3.9 per cent), Candida sp (6.8 per cent), Trichoderma sp (6.8 per cent), Fusarium sp (7.8 per cent), Cladosporium sp (8.7 per cent), Penicillium sp (21.4 per cent) and Aspergillus sp (37.9 per cent)