Abstract

Dermatophytosis is a highly infectious fungal disease of humans and animals. We describe a small outbreak of dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton verrucosum, a zoophilic fungus, in the family of a dairy farmer from a nearby village of Bharuch, Gujarat, India. The diagnosis was confirmed on direct microscopical demonstration of fungal elements in the skin scrapings of 3 children followed by in- vitro culture of clinical specimens on mycological medium. Detailed morphological identification of fungal isolates was attempted in Narayan stain. All the patients treated with topical application of 1% terbinafine cream showed good clinical response. Epidemiological investigation revealed that all the children who were in close contact with a ringworm infected cow-calf contracted the infection. Direct microscopy of the skin scrapping and its cultural isolation established the diagnosis of ringworm in a cow- calf due to Trichophyton verrucosum. The cow- calf was treated with 2 solution of tincture iodine. There was no difference in the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of T. verrucosum isolated from humans and animals. Since zoophilic dermatophytes have public health significance, the persons who are handling animals should take required precautions to check the spread of infection.