Zoonotic Dermatophytoses: Clinical Manifestation, Diagnosis, Etiology, Treatment, Epidemiological Situation in the Czech Republic
Abstract
Zoophilic dermatophytes are the most important agents of the superficial mycoses in domestic and farm animals, and are often transmitted to humans. This group includes approximately ten specialized parasitic fungi belonging to the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum.
While infections in animals have often mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, human infections typically ma-nifest as highly inflammatory infections of skin or hairy parts of the head. The children are the most frequently affected group.
The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive interdisciplinary overview of the clinical picture and diagnostic methods of these infections in human and domestic animals, and to summarize available data on the main causal agents and their prevalence in animals. This knowledge is essential for understanding the dynamic of the disease transmission and the local and global epidemiological situation.
Separate subchapters are focused on treatment of zoonotic infections and prevention of their spread. An epidemiological analysis of 2361 tinea corporis cases (1004 of zoonotic origin) and 79 tinea capitis cases (60 zoonotic) diagnosed during five-year study in Czech patients is presented.