Feline ringworm is a general term for dermatophytes in cats. It is highly contagious and accounts for more than 80% of skin diseases. Dogs, cats, and humans can all be infected, commonly known as fungal infection, or "ringworm". The dermatologists of human doctors often misdiagnose allergic dermatitis caused by cat hair, causing many owners to abandon their cats.

Does cat ringworm infect everyone?

Ringworm in cats can be transmitted to humans. However, not everyone who is exposed to ringworm in cats will get the disease.

In fact, only a small number of people with low immunity are susceptible to infection. These groups include children, the elderly, HIV+ patients, patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients undergoing autoimmune disease treatment, and patients who use drugs that suppress the immune system after organ transplantation or blood transfusion.

Normally, if you have been in contact with an animal that has been diagnosed with feline ringworm, but you have not been infected, you will not be infected again in all likelihood. Remember that infection requires damaged skin as a vector, so wearing gloves when contacting animals with feline ringworm is very important to prevent contact with infection.

Pathogen

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi closely related to morphology, physiology, and antigens. They can be divided into 3 genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epiderm.

There are two main genera of pathogenic fungi in cat dermatomycosis: Microsporum and Trichophyton. The former includes Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypsum; the latter includes only Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

According to investigations, more than 98% of cat dermatophytes are caused by Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypsum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes each account for about 1% of the disease.

Dermatomycetes survive for a long time in nature and have strong resistance. Microsporum canis can survive for more than 1 year in a dry environment. Microsporum gypsum has affinity for soil and can grow and reproduce in the soil and survive for a long time.

Clinical symptoms   

After a cat is infected with skin fungus, it appears to be scratching due to severe itching.

It is common to depilate the skin on the head, ears, limbs, toes, and torso, with ring-shaped scaly spots, remaining damaged hair roots, and sometimes complete depilation.

The hair becomes brittle, the hair shaft is easy to break, and the hair roots are easy to fall off. In severe cases, large areas of hair can be removed. Red rashes can be seen on the skin. The hair removal area is covered with oily scabs.

treatment   

The treatment of ringworm in cats is mainly external drugs, or oral drugs in severe cases.

1. External medicine

Use clotrimazole ointment, compound benzoic acid ointment, sulfur ointment, 2% miconazole nitrate hydrophilic ointment, etc.

Shave the hair within 6 cm of the lesion before applying the medicine. It is best to wash the local skin with sulfur soap before applying the medicine. Apply 2 to 3 times a day, and the range of application extends 6 cm in diameter outside the diseased area, including the surrounding seemingly healthy skin, so that the drug can directly penetrate the skin of the affected area.

2. Antifungal drugs for internal use

Oral antifungal drugs generally have relatively large side effects, and they should be taken according to the course of treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Once a drug reaction occurs, the drug should be stopped immediately.

3. Pay attention to nutritional supplements

To strengthen the nutrition of cat food, you can also use animal vitamin supplements. It can take a little longer, three to four months or six months. Even if the cat's ringworm is cured, you can continue to feed it to strengthen the physique.

4. Pay attention to disinfection of the home environment to avoid human infection

Use pet environmental disinfectant to spray the cat’s litter, mats, etc. The floor and furniture in the home should be wiped with diluted disinfectant every other day or every 2 days, which can effectively prevent the spread of ringworm in cats.

5. Pay close attention to the new ringworm in cats

During the treatment period, the cat should pay attention to and promptly find the newly grown cat tinea in other parts. If found, immediately follow the above methods to cut the hair and apply the medicine to prevent it from developing into a large area of ​​hair loss.