Prevalence of M. canis in cats in a Dutch animal shelter at the moment of admission

Abstract

The risk of introduction of M. canis into Dutch animal shelters is evaluated in this study. M. canis is responsible for the infection with dermatophytosis in more than 90 percent of the cases in cats. The prevalence in a Dutch animal shelter is evaluated over a period of two months by testing the newly admitted cats (n=60) for fungal infections by using the MacKenzie method and culturing on Sabouraud and Selective Agar for three weeks. Fungal colonies were microscopically determined and reported as positive or negative for M. canis. The hypothesis : M. canis in Dutch shelter cats is a prevalent infection (>7,6%) at the moment of infection. No cats tested positive for M.Canis so the prevalence found in this research is 0%. Concluding: based on this outcome the hypothesis is rejected.