Background: A rapid, accurate screening test for dermatophytosis in cats is desirable in clinical and shelter medicine. In human dermatology, dermoscopy is used to identify dermatophyte-infected hairs by their characteristic comma hair appearance. Similar "comma-like" hairs have been observed in infected cats.
Hypothesis/objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of dermoscopy for the diagnosis of naturally occurring dermatophytosis compared to fungal culture.
Animals: A total of 67 cats were enrolled.
Methods: This was a descriptive field study. All cats were evaluated by dermoscopy and fungal culture. Dermoscopy was performed with a hand held nonpolarized light dermoscope.
Results: Three dermatophyte pathogens were isolated via fungal cultures in 36 cats: Microsporum canis (n = 31), Microsporum gypseum (n = 3) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (n = 2). Dermoscopy was positive in 21 of 36 cats with culture-confirmed dermatophytosis.
Conclusions and clinical importance: Dermoscopy may be a useful point-of care-test to identify infected hairs to sample for dermatophyte cultures, but a definitive diagnosis for dermatophytosis should be based on clinical signs and the results of multiple diagnostic tests.
© 2016 ESVD and ACVD.