Clinical and Mycological Studies of Dermatophytosis in Human Transmitted from Infected Rabbits

Lim, Sook Hee; Houh, Dong; Park, Hyun Jeong; Baek, Seung Cheol; Byun, Dae Gyoo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, as rabbits have become a popular pet in Korea, there has been an increase in reports of dermatophytosis in humans as a result of frequent contact with rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose is to investigate the clinical and mycological features of dermatophytosis in humans transmitted from rabbits.
METHODS
Seventeen cases of dermatophytosis, developed after contact with rabbits, were clinically evaluated from November, 1999 to May, 2000. Mycologic studies were carried out from the lesions of rabbits and humans.
RESULTS
Dermatophytes were cultured from 15 of 17 (88.2%) specimens from the lesions of humans. Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes, granulosum-asteoroid form, was isolated in 12 specimens (70.6%) and Microsporum (M.) canis was isolated in 3 specimens (17.6%). Human infection showed a high incidence in young children under age 10 (52.9%), with female predominance (2 times), and high familial incidence, and mainly being tinea faciale and tinea corporis. Tinea capitis also was observed in four cases, and M. canis was isolated from two of them.
CONCLUSION
Rabbits can be an infectious source of human ring-worm due to T. mentagrophytes and M. canis. These zoophilic dermatophytes can be frequently transmitted to humans and induce inflammatory lesions. Therefore, epidemiologic studies of the prevalence of dermatophytes in healthy or infected rabbits, and sanitary measure are necessary.