Have you ever thought of a cat having ringworms? Ringworms also known as dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that can affect human and animals. Among animals, cats have the highest positive culture rate. Dermatophytosis is caused by fungi under the dermatophyte group. Microsporum and Trichophyton species causes dermatophytosis in cats.

What causes dermatophytosis in cats?

- Dermatophytosis in cats is caused by fungal spores from Microsporum and Trichophyton species, which are produced during the infectious stage of dermatophyte infection. Fungal spores can be seen in clusters on the hairs of cats using a microscope. When a cat gets exposed to a place or a thing that has fungal spores, the cat can develop symptoms of dermatophytosis 10-14 days after the actual exposure.

Where do fungi from dermatophyte group be seen?

- There is no specific area or region where dermatophytes can be seen, but these fungi thrive best in hot and humid environment. The dermatophyte spores that had shed off from cats can stay in an environment for 2 years without a host. Warm and humid environments support the growth of fungi.

How dermatophytosis affect cats?

- Dermatophyte fungi acquire nutrients from the keratin material in hairs, nails, and skin. Dermatophytosis manifests symptoms such as drying and cracking of the cat's skin. They may appear as a round and scaly lesion, which has a pale center. It causes the hairs on the infected site to become brittle causing them to fall away from the skin easily, and this phenomenon causes bald spots or patches on the cat's skin. In some cases, it is accompanied by severe itchiness which causes discomfort to the cats.

How can dermatophytosis be transmitted?

- Dermatophytosis is transmitted through dermatophyte spores. The cat can contract the fungal spores by means of direct contact of an infected person or animals. Cats can also get the fungal spores through an indirect manner by means of exposure to contaminated environment and equipment or things. This is possible because infected cats can shed off their hairs with dermatophyte spores on it, which causes spread of the spores to other cats, animals, and humans. Cats can get the spores also from a contaminated soil because spores can stay up to 24 months without a host. But cats should be frequently exposed before they can develop dermatophytosis.

How is dermatophytosis diagnosed?

- There are four methods veterinarians use to diagnose dermatophytosis. It can be examination of the appearance and location of the infected site, detecting fungal spores through an ultraviolet light (Wood's Lamp), microscopic examination of hair, and a fungal culture using a hair pulled from an infected site.

How can dermatophytosis be prevented?

- Dermatophytosis can be prevented easily; you just have to keep your cat's home environment clean and free from any moisture. If you have another cat or pet with ringworm, you have to isolate the infected pet so that the fungal spores cannot be transmitted to the healthy cat and even to people.

How can dermatophytosis be treated?

- The treatment actually depends on the extent and severity of dermatophytosis. Consultation to veterinary dermatologist is very essential to use a proper and effective treatment for your cat. Veterinarians usually prescribe topical anti-fungal treatment to prevent the spread of fungal spores and environmental contamination. Systemic anti-fungal medication can also be used because this is more potent in eliminating the fungi. A combination of topical and systemic therapy is also possible to hasten the destruction of dermatophyte spores.