Ringworm - Dermatophytosis

I am considering adopting a kitten, but one I am interested in is currently being treated for ringworm. The shelter won't release him until he is through with treatment, but I'm wondering what the after effects will be. Could my husband, I or the kitten get sick still?    Does ringworm permanently harm a kitten's overall health? - Amanda

Ringworm Treatment

Dermatophytosis Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Ringworm is actually a skin infection caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. Dermatophytes means “plants that live on the skin” Contrary to the name it is not caused by a worm at all. The medical term for ringworm is dermatophytosis.

In humans Ringworm classically presents itself as a round, red lesion with a ring of scaly skin around the perimeter and normal appearing skin in the center.

In animals, ringworm generally appears as a dry, grey, scaly patch.  Ringworm can easily mimic other skin lesion and have any appearance. For this reason diagnosis and treatment by your veterinarian is extremely important.

Ringworm is spread by contact with infected animals, and by touching objects that the infected animal has touched; such as bedding, brushes or grooming equipment, saddles and other tack, furniture, rugs, etc. Ringworm is transmissible to humans.  Some people are at greater risk of contracting the disease.  Risk factors include age, stress, HIV-positive patients, chemotherapy patients, transfusion patients, organ transplant patients.  Generally speaking, if you have not contracted the disease by the time your pet is diagnosed, you will more than likely not develop ringworm.

The diagnosis of ringworm can be done with a fungal culture.  This is done by putting skin scrapings and some hair on a plate of media.  Time is allowed for any fungus that is present to grow.  This is the most definitive method. However, the process is slow.  Some veterinarians will also use a “quick test”. This is the Woods Lamp Test. It uses a black light to check for florescence propertied of the scrapings.  This test is quick but is also prone to errors due to the florescent properties of other material such as dander.
Treatment of ringworm is generally successful.  However, it takes great commitment on the part of the pet owner.  Treatment time is generally 1 to 2 months.  If treatment is stopped when the disease “appears” to be gone, it will generally lead to recurrence of the disease.  Treatment should only be discontinued after the veterinarian confirms successful treatment with a negative skin culture.

Generally one of two prescription medications are used for the treatment of ringworm; Griseofulvin (Fulvicin)  or Itraconazole(Sporanox).  There are discerning preferences among veterinary dermatologists about which of these drugs to use.  It is recommended that each of these drugs be given with food.  It is very important to discuss pregnancy of the pet when using either of these treatments as both drugs can cause birth defects.

Ringworm can survive in the environment for up to 18 months.  The dermatophyte fungus is highly contagious between animal species.  It is very easily spread between animals, pets, and human.  Treatment of the living space of the infected individual is extremely important.  Complete sterilization of the environment from dermatophyte is extremely difficult.  The following suggestions should be done to aid in the recurrence of the ringworm disease.

• The infected pet should be confined to one room of the house.
• It is important to vacuum the carpets often and to dispose of the bag or clean the canister with 1:10 bleach solution
• Dispose of all rugs and carpets that you can.
• Thoroughly wash all bedding material and toys.  Disposal of these items is preferred.
• Wash all surfaced with 1:10 bleach solution.  Virkon S. is a veterinary disinfectant that can be used as well.
• Repeat these steps every 3 days until veterinarian confirms a negative culture.

** The author of this article accepts no liability for misdiagnosis. If your animal shows any signs/ symptoms of the diseases described above, contact your veterinarian immediately. This is an informational article only and is NOT a complete list of diseases in dogs. This article should not take place of regular veterinary care.**