2013年9月16日星期一
Ringworm and Fungal Disease
Along with viruses and bacteria, fungal organisms can cause disease in dogs. Probably the most common one pet owners are familiar with and have heard about is dermatophytosis, or ringworm. In addition, yeast infections can be a common problem in the ears of dogs. These types of yeast and fungi that affect mainly the outer skin surfaces are termed superficial mycoses.
The most prevalent fungal disease that afflicts dogs is ringworm. Three different organisms — Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum — can actually cause ringworm. The first two are contracted from infected animals; the third, from contaminated soil. In dogs, ringworm causes patchy hair logs with or without an accompanying lesion on the skin beneath. Since humans can be susceptible to the same type of ringworm, reddened, circular lesions occurring on the owner as well might support a diagnosis. Diagnosis of ringworm is confirmed by a fungal culture. Treatment can consist of iodine or chlorhexidine shampoos and topical and/or oral antifungal medications.
In contrast to ringworm, fungal and yeast infections involving the deeper tissues of the body are termed subcutaneous or deep mycoses, depending on the depth of tissue involvement. These diseases, including sporotrichosis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis, can be quite severe, and even life-threatening at times. Spores from these organisms are inhaled, are ingested, or penetrate the skin via wounds. Depending on the organism involved, clinical signs can include weight loss, coughing, breathing difficulties, draining skin lesions, tender skin masses, lameness, diarrhea, and nervous system impairment (i.e., blindness).
History, physical exam findings, and laboratory tests, including radiographic X rays, and biopsies of affected regions can lead the veterinary practitioner to a tentative diagnosis of a fungal infection within the body. Microscopic examination of body fluids or drainages for fungal spores or yeast can also be helpful. In most cases, a definitive diagnosis is made by testing a blood serum sample for antibodies against the fungal organisms in question, or, less commonly, by culturing for growth.
A number of antifungal medications are available and can be used to treat such infections in dogs. Depending on which agents are used (many are used in combination with one another), duration of treatment required is often 1 to 3 months to afford a complete cure.
Radiographs and special immunologic tests can be used to monitor the response to treatment. In many cases, surgical excision of those regions infected with the fungus can afford faster recovery. The prognosis for dogs is good when fungal infections are detected and treated in their early stages but guarded to poor if dissemination throughout the body has occurred.
2013年9月14日星期六
Ringworm Disease in Dogs
What is Ringworm?
Ringworm has nothing to do with worms, which is a skin disease caused by a fungus. The name comes from the fact that this disease can cause the ring-shaped skin irritation. Several different fungi can cause ringworm. When a dog is infected, about 70% of them were infected by Microsporum Canis, 20% by Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes 10% by. In dogs, two of the most common symptoms of Ringworm is a scaly skin and hair loss.
Ringworm diagnosis
Veterinarians often use light referred to diagnose dermatofitosis Wood, but not 100% accurate. For a definite diagnosis of ringworm, DTM culture should be performed. Vets can comb dog mantle with a new toothbrush and using samples to create a culture.
Ringworm symptoms in dogs
Ringworm of the most common symptoms in dogs are scaly patches of damaged hair, and sometimes the patch will be hairy. Dogs can also get folliculitis and furunkulosis with pustula and papula, either regionally or over large parts of the body. A specific form of dermatofitosis in dogs is Kerion reaction, focal nodular form dermatofitosis. When adult dogs infected with mange, ringworm is rarely develop into common – they are usually strong enough to block the infection of one or several parts of the body. Adult dogs with weak immune systems can develop ringworm but general.
Ringworm treatment for dogs
When ringworm affects dogs and healthy adults, the disease is often restrict themselves. But most owners choose to bring their dogs to the vet for treatment can make the disease disappear faster. Appropriate treatment is also a good way to prevent the spread of the fungus, because this disease is quite contagious. Many animals, including cats, can get ringworm, and can also spread to humans.
It is possible to use the whole body topical therapy for dogs infected with ringworm, but the use of this controversial and many vets avoid unless really severe infection and spread. Whole-body treatments often come in the form of topical shampoo or rinse. One of the most commonly used rinse is Enilconazole.
For ringworm consists of local lesions, dogs can be cured with Klotrimazol lubricated or miconazole on the affected area. If the situation worse, or if long hair make confidential topical treatment (more common in dogs than cats), systemic treatment may be required. Two drugs effective against ringworm in dogs and Itrakonazol Terbinafine. Terbinafine normal dose for dogs is 30 mg per kilogram of body weight once a day, while you only need to use 5-10 mg / kg Itrakonazol one day.
Dogs for example can be given of Griseofulvin microsized formulation, the standard dose is 25 to 100 mg / kg, given once a day or in divided doses several. It should be noted that this dose is higher than the dose approved by the American Food and Drug Administration. When the dog is given Griseofulvin, stomach problems are common side effects.
Over the past few years, Lufenuron has been tested as a cure for ringworm in dogs may be, but the results have not been confirmed by controlled studies and therefore could not be approved. Hopefully, it will turn out to be a good remedy for ringworm in dogs that we can benefit from in the future.
Regardless of whether your dog is receiving systemic or topical treatment for ringworm, it is important to not stop treating it just because symptoms disappeared. Ringworm should always be treated as clinical cure 2-4 last week, or until your vet has your dog combed and determined that the disease was fully recovered. In some cases, you should treat your dog for a few months because it takes time before the symptoms start to go away.
Ringworm vaccination for dogs
Currently there are no vaccines available for dogs mange, ringworm vaccine comprising but the cells lost mushroom has been approved for use on cats. These vaccines can hasten clinical resolution of Microsporum Canis in cats. The vaccine can also reduce the severity of ringworm infections in cats, but unfortunately not the frequency.
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