Authors : Li Dai-Jun, Zhou Yu-Fa, Liu Jing-Bo, Zhang Mingliang, Cai Yu-Mei and Miao Zeng-Min
Abstract: To investigate the prevalence of dermatophytes in rabbits raised in Qingdao region, an Eastern area of Shandong province, China, a total of 880 rabbits with skin lesions were examined from June 2009 to May 2010. Of the 880 individuals studied 271 (30.8%) were positive for fungal elements by direct microscopic examination and 162 (18.4%) samples were culture positive for dermatophytes. Among 162 rabbits with dermatophytosis, the frequency of the isolated species in increasing order was as follows: Microsporum gypseum, 31 (19.8%); Microsporum canis, 56 (34.6%); Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 73 (45.7%). Rabbits <3 months of age showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of dermatophytes than other age groups (p<0.05). The isolation rate of dermatophytes in Summer and Autumn were higher than in Spring and Winter (p<0.05).
Li Dai-Jun, Zhou Yu-Fa, Liu Jing-Bo, Zhang Mingliang, Cai Yu-Mei and Miao Zeng-Min, 2012. Prevalence Investigation of Dermatophytes in Rabbits in Qingdao Region, China. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 883-885.