The epidemiology of ringworm in racehorses caused by Trichophyton equinum var autotrophicum

Comparative effectiveness of Sumaq and Neem extract cream, Eniloconazole and glycerine iodine on dermatophytosis in Arabian horses: a randomized clinical trial

Dermatophytosis is a contagious fungal disease among animal communities. The major concerns of dermatophytosis are cost of treatment, difficulty of control, and the public health consequences. The objective of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of Sumaq and Neem extract cream with that of traditional treatments, eniloconazole and glycerine iodine, on dermatophytosis in Arabian horses. For this purpose, 37 Arabian horses with dermatophytosis had been used. Fungal isolation and identification for each horse were carried out by standard microbiological procedures. Sumaq (Rhus coriaria Linn.) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts were selected based on in vitro effectiveness. Horses were randomly allocated into four groups. The first group (n = 8) was treated with glycerine iodine 10% daily for 7 days. The second group (n = 10) was treated using eniloconazole 10% emulsified concentrate four times with 2 days interval. The third group (n = 11) was treated with Neem seeds extract (20% cream) daily for 10 days, and the fourth group (n = 8) was treated with Sumaq extract (5% cream) daily for 10 days. Clinical and mycological evaluations were assessed at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-treatment. The Sumaq and eniloconazole were more effective on clinical index score after 7 days of treatment followed by Neem seed 20% cream. At 28 days post-treatment, a complete healing was obtained by Sumaq 5% cream and eniloconazole (median clinical sum score = zero) followed by Neem (median clinical sum score = 1.5). Moreover, Dermatophytes spp. was isolated only from two horses, one from Neem group and the other from glycerin iodine group. The present results indicate that Sumaq 5% and Neem seed extract are effective alternative treatment for dermatophytosis in Arabian horses.

Training failure among yearling horses

OBJECTIVE

To compare financial returns between pinhooked yearling horses (ie, bought and trained for approximately 5 months with the goal of selling the horse at "2-year-olds in training" sales) that had mild or severe training failure and horses that had planned versus nonplanned training failure.

ANIMALS

40 Thoroughbred pinhooked yearling horses.

PROCEDURE

During the period from September 1998 through and April 1999, 20 horses had mild training failure (1 to 11 days lost), and 20 horses had severe training failure (13 to 108 days lost). Horses were assigned to these 2 groups on the basis of frequency distribution (median) of days lost during training. Horses were also categorized on the basis of type of training failure (planned vs nonplanned training failure). The outcome of primary interest was financial return. Median financial returns were compared among groups by use of the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

Median financial returns for horses that had severe training failure ($1,000) were significantly different, compared with horses that had mild training failure ($24,000). Analysis of results also indicated that median returns were significantly different among horses that had planned training failure (-$2,000; eg, horses with radiographic abnormalities detected during routine prepurchase examinations that required surgical treatment, resulting in days lost during training), compared with horses that did not ($10,000).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Training failure has an economic impact on revenues in pinhooked yearling horses. Lameness, planned training failure, respiratory disease, and ringworm were common and important causes of training failure.

Human onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton equinum transmitted from a racehorse

We report fingernail onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton equinum in a farmer who breeds racehorses. In addition to the thumbnail, T. equinum had infected one of the racehorses. Oral terbinafine cured the infection in the farmer.

Infectious crusting dermatoses

Although there are numerous dermatoses in the horse in which the formation of crusts occurs, there are two relatively common and important infectious crusting dermatoses, namely, dermatophytosis and dermatophilosis. This article reviews the current concepts regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of each disease, as well as the more common clinical presentations, methods of diagnosis, and treatment.

Review of animal mycoses in Australia

This review covers the available literature on the mycoses of animals in Australia since the last review published in 1967. Of the cutaneous infections, dermatophytoses have been recorded in a wide range of animals: cattle, horses, goats, pigs, sheep, cats, dogs, mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits, a lion, kangaroos, a camel, koalas and wallabies. These infections were caused by several species and varieties of the genera, Microsporum and Trichophyton. Eight agents of ringworms have been recorded in the horse. Two subcutaneous mycoses, phaeohyphomycosis and sporotrichosis have been reported. Phaeohyphomycosis is becoming more common but sporotrichosis is rare having been recorded only once in a cat. The following systemic mycoses have been recorded: adiaspiromycosis, aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, dactylariosis, fusariomycosis, histoplasmosis, miscellaneous mycoses, mycotic abortion and related conditions, zygomycosis, pythiosis, protothecosis and green algal infections. Cryptococcosis has affected 11 different animal species. Mycotic abortion is a serious disease in Victoria. Pythiosis of horses has been extensively studied in northern Australia.

Experimental medication of equine ringworm due to Trichophyton equinum var. autotrophicum

Twelve medicaments were tested for their efficacy in the treatment of Trichophyton equinum var. autotrophicum; povidone iodine, thiabendazole ointment, captan ointment and Burroughs Wellcome Ringworm Ointment gave satisfactory results but their usefulness may be limited for treatment of large numbers of horses. Aqueous washes containing 0.5% hexetidine or 0.3% chloramine-T did not prevent fungi being isolated from lesions for up to 7 days after treatment. Similarly neither etisazole nor thiabendazole suspension prevented fungi from being isolated from lesions for up to 15 days after treatment. Commonly used aqueous solution of 2.5% lime sulphur and 2% captan were least successful, as fungi could still be isolated from lesions for up to 30 days after treatment. The need to treat large numbers of horses may dictate the use of such solutions rather than ointments because of ease of application and cost factors. Treatments consisting of 10% nystatin ointment, 10% iodine fortis, 10% Medol and a proprietary ointment, Queensland Itch Dressing, were not satisfactory. Clinical appraisal and a scratch test must be used together to evaluate progress of treatment. Mass medication of large numbers of horses should be primarily aimed at reduction of spread of infection; normal hair growth should not be used as an indication of the removal of infective agents in the hair as regrowth was altered very little by medication. Hence assessments of cure on the basis of regrowth of hair alone are of dubious value.

Dermatophytes identified at the Australian National Reference Laboratory in Medical Mycology 1966-1982

Over a 17 yr period from 1966 to 1982, 4354 dermatophytes were identified at the Australian National Reference Laboratory in Medical Mycology. The most frequently identified species was Trichophyton rubrum, accounting for 35.3% of identifications, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (26.5%), Trichophyton tonsurans (12.8%), Epidermophyton floccosum (10.7%) and Microsporum canis (8.4%). Specimens taken from the feet were the most common source of the Trichophyton rubrum isolates, followed by specimens from the groin. The highest incidence of T. rubrum and other Trichophyton infections was found in males in the age group 21-30 yr. Microsporum species were most commonly isolated from children aged 10 yr or less. In 1.5% of specimens, more than one fungal species was isolated. In most of these instances a yeast (predominantly Candida species) was found in addition to a Trichophyton species.