Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 54 No. 3, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.3.2
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) as carriers of dermatophytes in Portugal
Ana Cristina Matos
; Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Q-RURAL - Quality of Life in the Rural World, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
Sofia Saraiva
; Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Daniela Alves
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Sofia Soares
; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Luís Figueira
; Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Q-RURAL - Quality of Life in the Rural World, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
Luís Cardoso
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Manuela Matos
; Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Coelho
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Abstract
Dermatophytosis is a common dermatological infection, affecting humans, pets, domestic ruminants and wild animals. It is a cause for concern as it represents a risk to public and animal health. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of dermatophyte infection in wild mammals (road-killed and hunted) in Portugal. Fungal isolation was performed on the fur and scales of 101 wild mammals. Based on the observation of microstructures and colony morphology, fungal isolates were identified to the genus level. Dermatophytes were found in two of the 10 studied species: 3/51 (5.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0–12.3%) red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and 5/19 (2.6%; 95% CI: 0.0–9.8%) Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). These species represent different taxonomic families: Canidae and Viverridae and it is therefore important to infer the role of infection in these animals studied for dermatophytosis.
Keywords
dermatophytes; Egyptian mongoose; occurrence; red fox
Hrčak ID:
279070
URI
Publication date:
30.10.2022.
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