Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM discusses preventive measures to reduce the risk of dermatophyte infection
In this interview, Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM, associate professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, and service chief of dermatology in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, talks about preventive measures against fungal infections that dog and cat owners should be aware of to minimize the risk of infection.
Below is the interview transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity:
Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM: My name is Domenico Santoro. I'm an associate professor in dermatology at the University of Florida. I have a PhD in immunology, and I'm service chief of the dermatology service here.
If we're talking about [Malassezia pachydermatis], there is not really much to do in the sense that this is a commensal, so every dog, every cat, has it. So we just need to be aware of the underlying problem, like allergies, for example, [that] develop as a primary issue for these patients.
For dermatophytes, the most important prevention measure will be essentially [being] careful with new cats or new dogs coming in the household, or [coming into] contact [with other animals], specifically in doggy parks where there is contact with other animals that may be infected. Or even [being careful with] dogs who like to go outside and dig or chase wildlife animals because that is, for some of those dermatophytes, the soil and/or rodents can be the reservoir for the infection. So having dogs that dig outside—really, you can’t really prevent that type of behavior, but it is important to note it in the history, so that the veterinarian will know which type of fungus to consider, and they [can put] that organism in a differential diagnosis.