Positive effects of attenuated Trichophyton verrucosum strain administration in treatment of the bovine trichophytosis

Abstract

Trichophytosis is an enzootic skin disease caused by Trichophyton spp. In this study, the beneficial effects of 2 intramuscular injections (10 mL of attenuated T. verrucosum strain (2.5 10(6) agents/mL) at 2 weeks of interval on 9 dermatophytosis affected cows were investigated by evaluation of clinical recovery and measurement of biochemical markers of liver and kidney functions (enzyme AST, ALT and ALP activities and serum BUN, uric acid and creatinine concentrations, respectively) in blood serum collected on days 0 and 14 (before and 6 hours after the intramuscular injection) and on Day 42. Firstly, the presence of virulent T. verrucosum strain in skin lesions of all affected animals was confirmed by isolation and microbiological identification. Total or partial clinical recovery (diminution of the number and size of the skin lesions, reduction of the infected body areas, and disappearance of scurf, scales, hair loss, and keratinisation zones) was observed 4 weeks after the second injection in 66.6% (6/9) and in 33% (3/9) of affected cows respectively. Animals in which clinical recovery was incomplete were the most severely infected before the beginning of treatment. Furthermore, no significant alteration of liver and kidney functions was induced by administration of the attenuated T. verrucosum strain. Consequently, because of the significant reduction of the clinical signs and the absence of side effect, vaccination with attenuated strain of T. verrucosum may be beneficial in the treatment of bovine trichophytosis.