Prevalence and Factors Associated with Dermatophytes in Equine: A Study of Hospital Demand

Abstract

The dermatophytosis is important in veterinary dermatology due to its zoonotic potential. Few studies were conducted worldwide to determine the prevalence of dermatophytosis in horses and they achieved distinct results. Within the equine species, the literature mentions the prevalence ranging between 2 and 44% [1,2], in distinct locations. In Brazil, different geographic regions also presented different prevalence of dermatophytosis. In Paraiba state, the prevalence in rainy season was of 3.4% [3]. The increased of human-domestic animal’s interaction promotes the transmission of fungal diseases and increases the number of cases in human population. In this context, the investigation of zoonotic diseases is important to develop public prevention policies, since although the disease is not urgent or emergent, it results in financial losses. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatophytes in equine from a Veterinary University Hospital during the period of one year in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.