Isolation and Identification of Dermatophytes in Ruminants from Bareilly Region of Uttar Pradesh, India

Trichophyton and Microsporum species are most common and important animal pathogens capable of causing dermatophytosis. Dermatophytes cause infections of the skin, hair and nails due to their ability to obtain nutrients from keratinized material. The organisms colonize the keratin tissues and inflammation is caused by host response to metabolic by-products. They are usually restricted to the nonliving cornified layer of the epidermis because of their inability to penetrate viable tissue of an immunocompetent host. The disease appears to be more common in tropical than temperate climates particularly in countries having hot and humid climatic condition. Dermatophytoses also known as “ringworm” is a major public and veterinary health problem reported from different parts of the world and causes great economic loss. Therefore, the present study was undertaken for isolation and identification of dermatophytes causing dermatophytoses in ruminants. A total 80 ruminants comprising of 28 buffaloes, 13 cattle, 9 calves, 11 sheep and 19 goats with the history of cutaneous lesion from different places of Bareilly region, Uttar Pradesh, India, were examined for presence of dermatophytes. Each sample was subjected to direct microscopic examination and cultured on mycobiotic agar at 28°C for 4–6 weeks. Other important tests used for Identification of the fungal elements were hair perforation test (HPT), and wood's lamp examination (WLE). Results revealed that 33.33% of calves, 23.07% of cattle, 7.14% of buffalo and 9.19% of sheep out of total sample were found positive for dermatophytoses but none of the goat was found positive for any dermatophytes. This study confirms the presence and association of Microsporum and Trichophyton sp as a cause of dermatophytoses in ruminants.