Combination Therapy vs Monotherapy for Management of Feline Dermatophytosis Caused by Microsporum canis and Its Zoonotic Importance: Report of 4 Cases

Abstract

The most prevalent and significant cause of dermatophytosis in cats is Microsporum canis, which also has zoonotic potential. Infected animals often present with circular lesions, scaling, and multifocal alopecia. Notably, M. canis is not part of the normal skin microbiome in cats. This study evaluates the therapeutic management of dermatophytosis caused by M. canis using a combination of pulse-dosed itraconazole and continuous terbinafine therapy and compares its effectiveness with continuous terbinafine monotherapy. Four male Persian cats, aged 20 months, 18 months, 5 months, and 2 years, weighing 3.10 kg, 2.5 kg, 1.5 kg, and 3.3 kg, respectively, were presented at the R.V.P, IVRI, Izzatnagar, with complaints of pruritus, alopecia, and scaling on the nose, dorsum of the neck, and ears. Clinical examination revealed that all vital parameters were within the reference range. A ten-year-old boy who owned one of the cats presented with tinea corporis in his groin, highlighting the zoonotic nature of the infection. The diagnosis was confirmed through patient history, clinical signs, direct microscopic examination of hairs, fungal culture, and PCR, all consistent with M. canis. This study indicated that combination therapy with itraconazole and terbinafine was more effective than terbinafine monotherapy for treating feline dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis.