Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in meat rabbits with alopecia in Portugal

Authors

  • Fernando Moreira Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)
  • Alice Miranda Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)
  • Adosinda Coelho Serviços de Veterinária do Norte
  • José Monteiro Sumicor
  • Ana Coelho Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2012.1032

Keywords:

Risk factors, prevalence, rabbits, dermatophytosis

Abstract

An epidemiological dermatophytosis survey was carried out in farmed rabbits with alopecia in Northern and Central Portugal.  Between August and October 2008, samples from suspected clinical cases of alopecia in meat rabbits on industrial farms were collected and cultured by conventional methods.  Effects on the prevalence of several variables, such as breed, age, month of sample collection, configuration of the lesions and presence of concomitant infections in the rabbitries were evaluated using a logistic regression model.  The overall prevalence of dermatophytes species was 82.7% (95% CI: 80.1-85.3%). Two dermatophytes species were isolated: Trichophyton mentagrophytes (91.9%) and Microsporum canis (8.1%).  Five variables were associated with dermatophyte isolation in univariate analysis.  The multivariate logistic regression model identified configuration of lesions (OR=3.15; 95% CI: 1.39-7.15%) and the presence of concomitant infections on the farms (OR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.03-7.12%) as risk factors.  Considering the paucity of epidemiological reports in this country, these results could make a useful contribution towards the diagnosis and prevention of rabbit dermatophytosis.

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Author Biographies

Fernando Moreira, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)

Laboratório de Microbiologia Médica, Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, CECAV

Alice Miranda, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)

Laboratório de Microbiologia Médica, Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, CECAV

Adosinda Coelho, Serviços de Veterinária do Norte

Divisão de Intervenção Veterinária de Vila Real

Ana Coelho, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)

Laboratório de Microbiologia Médica, Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, CECAV

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