الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was carried out in order to determine the role of pet dogs and cats in transmission of zoonotic dermatophytosis to humans in Cairo, Giza and Beni-Suef governorates, Egypt, in the period between July 2018 to September 2020, with a reference to the risk factors influencing the prevalence of fungal infection in both animal species and humans. Moreover, molecular characterization of the isolated dermatophyte species from positive clinical specimens was operated using PCR technique, besides evaluation of the feasibility of sequencing using the ITS and Chs regions of ribosomal DNA gene (rDNA).
Firstly, a total number of 485 cutaneous specimens (245 from pet dogs, 180 from pet cats, and 60 from human-contacts) were collected, and then investigated in the Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses, and Epidemiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University.
Pet animals under investigation were divided according to the origin of animal rearing into household companions including pet dogs and cats that underwent clinical examination in different veterinary clinics, and outdoor ones which were also classified into 2 categories: The Veterinary Hospital for Laboratory, Treatment and Analysis, Cairo and commercial pet shops.
Special questionnaires were used, and data were collected from the pet owners and workers.
Skin scrapings, broken hair tufts, and loosely attached scales from the periphery of the suspected ringworm lesions were collected from the examined animals, labeled, numbered and finally transported to the laboratory for mycological examination. Direct microscopical, cultural isolation and molecular characterization techniques were performed.
The obtained results showed that the overall prevalence of the isolated dermatophytes was 20.4 and 16.1% in the examined pet dogs and cats, respectively. M. canis was the highest isolated fungus from both dogs and cats (10.2 and 8.3%, respectively) followed by T. mentagrophytes (6.1 and 5.6%, on frequency) then T. Verrucosum (4.1 and 2.2%, in a descending manner).
Correspondingly, young aged animals less than 6 months were the most susceptible in both of examined dogs and cats (50.0, and 33.3%, respectively). On the other hand, male dogs revealed a higher isolation rate (24.1%) than female ones (15.0%). Oppositely, queen cats expressed a higher positivity than tom ones (17.3 and 14.3%, respectively).
Furthermore, outdoor residence pets showed a higher isolation rate than household pets (41.2 and 9.4% in dogs, on frequency) and (32.7 and 8.8% in cats, respectively). Concerning the animal breed, it was found that the local breeds were harboring a higher infection rates with dermatophytes (48.1 and 26.7%, respectively) in both dogs and cats in comparison to that of the exotic breed (17.0 and 14.0%, on frequency).
In regard to the skin health status of the examined pets, it was denoted that the diseased animals showed advanced isolation proportion of for dermatophytes (25.3 and 47.5%) than those with apparently healthy skin (12.6 and 7.1%) in both pet dogs and cats, respectively.
Positive dermatophyte specimens were further subjected to molecular analysis. PCR amplification and sequencing of dermatophytes using Chs-1 and ITS1 genes exhibited that M. canis was the utmost zoonotic strain causing dermatophytosis in both pet animals and humans followed by depositing of isolates in the GenBank under the accession number MW425860.
Secondly, 60 hair and skin samples were collected from humans. Individuals chosen for this study were either pet owners (n=40) or pet workers (n=20).
Personal questionnaires were filled out by the individuals, with the results of the mycological investigation showed that the overall prevalence of infection was 31.7%.
M. canis represented the highest zoonotic potential species (63.1%). Individuals aged 11-30 years were mostly affected (41.7%). In addition, males were slightly more affected than females (32.0% and 31.4%, respectively). Moreover, pet workers were the most infected group (52.6%) with tinea.
Shifting to the in-vitro inhibitory effect of some of the commonly used antifungal agents against dermatophytes isolated from the examined pet animals and humans, it was reported that that itraconazole antifungal medication exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on zoonotic dermatophytes including M. canis, T. verrucosum, and T. mentagrophytes (58.0, 42.9, and 56.3%, respectively). Conversely, fucidic acid displayed the poorest anti-dermatophyte efficiency on both M. canis and T. mentagrophytes (12.0 and 18.7%, respectively). Furthermore, fluconazole antifungal agent had the lowest inhibitory effect (7.1%) on T. verrucosum.
A new approach for biocontrol of M. canis, the mostly common isolated dermatophyte of zoonotic importance in our study, was done using four EOs including thyme, menthol, cinnamon, and frankincense oil.
Recovered data showed that frankincense EO had the strongest inhibitory effect on M. canis (91.0%) at concentration of 10000 ppm. On the other hand, cinnamon EO exhibited the weakest effect (26.0%) at the same concentration.
Finally, this study discussed in detail, the public health importance of dermatophytes of zoonotic importance, transmitted mainly from pet animals to humans, and with clarification of the significant risk factors influenced their prevalence among both animals and humans.