Dermatophytosis Flashcards
What are 3 classifications of cutaneous fungal infections?
- dermatophytosis - superficial
- intermediate - opportunistic
- systemic - cutaneous manifestations of systemic infection
What are 4 steps to the pathogenesis of dermatophytosis?
- invasion of non-viable, keratinized tissue
- production of metabolic byproducts and toxins cause inflammation and hypersensitivities
- secondary folliculitis/furunculosis
- severe infection develops in immunocompromised hosts (on glucocorticoids)
How do most dermatophytes infecting animals deposit their spores?
ectothrix - place spores around the hair shaft
What are 5 risk factors for developing dermatophytosis?
- age - young, old
- immune status
- exposure to critical masses of arthrospores
- cutaneous trauma or increased hydration
- genetics
What are 3 clinical features of dermatophytosis?
- circular alopecic areas of erythema, crusts, scales, hyperpigmentation, nodules, or pustules
- brittle or broken hairs
- mild to moderate pruritus (cats > dogs)
Dermatophytosis, dog:
Dermatophytosis, cat:
more pruritic compared to dogs, but not at the level of flea bite allergies or scabies
Dermatophytosis:
scale, broken hair (seems stubbly)
Which species of dermatophytes has a unique presentation?
Nannizzia gypseum –> elevated nodules with deeper infection
Dermatophytosis:
- nodular
- draining tract from hair follicle = furunculosis
Trichophyton mentagrophytes:
Dermatophytosis:
draining tract = furunculosis
Dermatophytosis:
What are the 3 most common dermatophytes of dogs and cats?
- Microsporum canis - transmission from animal-to-animal
- Nannizzia gypseum - found in soil
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes - wildlife
What 5 fungal contaminants can be found on samples that may look like dermatophytosis?
- Aspergillus
- Alternaria
- Penicillium
- Rhizopus
- Mucor
What are 5 diagnostics used for dermatophytosis?
- Wood’s lamp
- trichogram + KOH preparation
- fungal culture WITH microscopic ID
- fungal PCR
- skin biopsy