Microsporum canis:Inapparent carriage by cats and the viability of arthrospores

ABSTRACT A total of 181 dermatologically healthy pet cats from 177 different households, attending a veterinary clinic, were sampled for the presence of dermatophytes by a modified MacKenzie hair brush technique.Microsporum caniswas the only dermatophyte recovered and was isolated from four cats (2.2 per cent) from four different households. In addition to clinical details, owners were questioned about the environment and management of all the cats sampled. The data regarding the cats from whichM caniswas recovered showed little variation from that of the culture‐negative cats except that all four cats were from multi‐cat (more than two cats) households, whereas only 35 per cent of the culture‐negative cats were from a similar environment. The viability ofM canisin infected feline hairs stored at room temperature was maintained for between 13 and 18 months.