Dermatophytosis in domestic cats: Identification, and treatment in an Indian context.

The surge in domestic cat adoption across India, particularly the rising preference for high-pedigree cats, coupled with environmental factors, has resulted in increased incidence of dermatophytosis among feline companions. Despite this growing concern, there is a noticeable scarcity of studies in India delving into the etiological factors contributing to dermatophytosis in cats. This disease is a threat to animal health and carries public health significance, given that cats are recognized reservoir hosts for Microsporum canis, a common dermatophyte affecting humans and animals. This study endeavours to identify the dermatophytes affecting cats and establish a standardized therapeutic regimen while accounting for the local stigma surrounding the regular bathing of cats. The study involved the examination of 82 cats presenting dermatological lesions, when subjected to cultural examination in dermatophyte test medium revealed 36 afflicted with dermatophytes. Isolates were presumptively identified by staining using lactophenol cotton blue, Chicago sky blue 6B, and Calcofluor white stains. Molecular-level identification of the isolates was confirmed through PCR-RFLP, amplifying the Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence of 16 s rDNA, followed by restriction digestion using the Mva1 enzyme. Among the thirty-six isolates, 29 were identified as M. canis, while the remaining 7 were M. gypseum. The cases were categorized into five groups and treated with Lime Sulphur dip, 4 % chlorhexidine shampoo, a shampoo containing 2 % miconazole and 4 % chlorhexidine, oral itraconazole alone, and a combination of oral itraconazole with lime-Sulphur dip. Statistical analysis revealed that the response was notably swifter with lime Sulphur dip when considering only topical therapy. Moreover, the mycological cure was most expeditious when combining Lime Sulphur dip with oral itraconazole. These findings underscore the pivotal role of topical biocides in feline dermatophytosis treatment, potentially reducing the reliance on specific antifungals and thereby contributing to the mitigation of antimicrobial resistance emergence.

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in goats, Capra hircus.

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes respiratory disease in goats and sheep, leading to significant economic losses in the livestock industry. A quick and robust diagnostic test will aid in early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) offers several advantages over traditional PCR, including faster amplification, simpler operation, and lower equipment requirements, making it a promising tool for use in basic livestock units where resources and infrastructure may be limited. The present study reports on developing a LAMP assay to rapidly detect M. ovipneumoniae in goats (Capra hircus) targeting the 16S rRNA gene. LAMP was optimized to perform at 60 °C for 75 min. The result was visualized by a change in colour from deep pink to orange and further confirmed by gel electrophoresis, which gave a typical ladder-like pattern. The detection limit of the assay was as low as 0.04 ng/µl, indicating the high sensitivity of the assay. The test failed to amplify DNA isolated from healthy goat blood, Mycoplasma arginini DNA, and Staphylococcus aureus DNA. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the assay were 97.73% and 94.83%, and 96.08%, respectively. The study concludes that the developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay is a practical and reliable tool for field-level diagnosis of M. ovipneumoniae infections in goats, with high sensitivity and specificity under resource-limited conditions.