Development of enzyme immunoassays (ELISA and Western Blot) for the serological diagnosis of feline dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis

Abstract

In veterinary medicine, the occurrence of skin diseases in small animals may exceed 30 % of clinical cases seen . In Brazil, the number of cases of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats, seen in teaching hospitals and veterinary clinics ranges from 1.7 % to 11 % 5 . Although the percentile of cases of dermatophytosis in routine veterinary practice, is reduced when compared to other skin diseases, has relevance for the fact that it is an anthropozoonosis then reflecting their importance in public health . In humans, 15 % of cases of ringworm ( tinea ) comes from zoonotic transmission , and most of these are acquired from contact with cats . Dermatophytosis animal is a skin disease caused by fungi and keratinolytic keratinophilic belonging to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton . At all latitudes,M. canis is the etiologic agent commonly present in cases dermatophytosis in dogs and cats . Some authors consider it as the cause 90-100 % of cases of ringworm.Dermatophytes are transmitted by contact with infected arthrospores or scales , on the animals in their own environment or fomites . The differential diagnosis of dermatophytosis should be considered in any case of lesions of alopecia , keratotic scaly and crusty . Achieving diagnosis is challenging and the use of fungal cultures is quite useful , but require laboratory experience and need time to get the result . The diagnosis of dermatophytic infections constitutes a challenge before the cats asymptomatic than in São Paulo, are of the order of 25 % among those apparently healthy as your integumentary system, since these animals pose a risk to unsuspecting animals and contacts humans. Given the scarcity of studies involving alternative diagnostic procedures, such as serological techniques for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis, and the need for rapid and reliable tests for early diagnosis, the objective is to develop an ELISA for the serological diagnosis of feline dermatophytosis and a Western Blot for the identification of immunogenic proteins of M. canis. Evaluate shall , 60 female Persian cats of various ages and any gender , divided into three groups : symptomatic , asymptomatic ( healthy carriers ) and healthy . Samples will be collected fur ( technique Mariat and Adam-Campos ) to perform fungal culture , and blood , whose sera are intended for ELISA and Western Blot , to be developed in the Laboratory of Pathogenic dimorphic fungi ICB - USP .