Mycological and epidemiological studies on trichophyton terrestre in cats.

Summary: Trichophyton terrestre was isolated from twenty of 276 cats examined (7.2%) in seven catteries. The catteries that gave positive isolations of T. terrestre were: a) three catteries that bred mainly Persian cats, but also had one or more outdoor‐indoor European shorthair cats, b) one cattery that bred European shorthair cats and colorpoint Persians, c) one cattery that bred only European shorthairs, d) one that bred only Persian cats, and e) one cattery that bred four different breeds including European shorthairs as well as Persian cats. The isolation of T. terrestre was significantly more often achieved from European shorthairs than from Persian cats, and from the group of European shorthairs and Persians kept together than from an other breeds. The hairbrush technique was found to be the most reliable method of sampling especially when the cats were asymptomatic. None of the 276 cats examined yielded Microsporum canis. Diluted Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and cycloheximide was the medium of choice for the isolation of T. terrestre. Of the 21 isolates, three produced creamy white, downy colonies, while 18 developed red‐pigmented, granular colonies. Microconidia were numerous. They were 1‐celled, cylindric to clavate and were borne singly. Four isolates also produced smoothwalled, cylindric to cigar‐shaped, 2–4–celled macroconidia. Spiral hyphae were observed. In addition, three isolated produced Arthroderma‐type peridial hyphae but none developed pseudo‐ or fertile gymnothecia.