Dermatophytes and dermatophytosis in humans and animals
Trichophytosis
Another dermatophyte that is easily brought into our homes.
Who is his host?
In addition to microsporosis, dermatophytes, which cause fungal diseases known as trichophytosis, are often introduced into our homes. The dermatophyte called Trichophyton mentaogrophytes sometimes ends up in pet stores and extends to susceptible animals. Animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, and similar, bred for sale in pet stores, sometimes become infected in the litter they come from, and then we buy them and bring it into our homes.
In this case, favorable factors must also be present for the infected hair to "nest" on our skin or the skin of our pet (skin folds and skin wetness, close contact with healthy skin, damaged skin, reduced resistance of human or animal, an abundance of infected hair, etc.). If a mouse wanders into a cage of a fur-bearing pet animal, attracted by its food, it can also become infected, and transmit the infection through the accommodation, i.e. to other animals.
View more about Trichophytosis on video file.
Source - author: youtube.com - Microhub Plus
How do we recognize an infected hamster, guinea pig or chinchilla?
In these small fur-bearing animals, the skin and fur changes caused by the dermatophyte spread very rapidly. Therefore, we will rarely see regular round bald outbreaks on the skin, such as in dogs. In these animals, we will see relatively quickly, from the moment of infection, irregular bald areas with quite pronounced skin scaling.
The hair loses its luster, becomes brittle and very easily falls out due to the damage caused by the dermatophyte enzyme. Fallen hair can be found in the animal accommodations, that is, the cages of these animals. The process of infecting humans and other animals in direct contact is the same as in microsporosis.
Area of hair loss on the chinchilla legs.
Areas of hair loss on rabbit head and ears.
Have you ever thought that a hamster that moves freely around the house contaminated with infected hair and skin scales that have fallen from an animal with microsporosis can also become infected with a dermatophyte of the species Microsporum canis?
Therefore, whose fault is it?
The site was co-financed by the European Union, from the European Social Fund.