Clinical and mycological evaluations of horses affected with cutaneous lesions in Ardabil, Iran

The fungi are a part of the normal flora of the skin of animals, including horses. Although some of the fungal species are pathogen, most of them are opportunistic and can cause opportunistic fungal infections. The present study aimed to identify pathogenic and saprophytic fungi isolated from horse cutaneous lesions. In this study, ۱۸۳ horses of eight horse-riding clubs were dermatologically examined in Ardabil city. In each case, the clinical sample was obtained from the cutaneous lesions. The specimens were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, as well as direct microscopic examination of fungal elements. ۲۵ cases of the ۱۸۳ examined horses had cutaneous lesions (۱۳.۶%). Among the cutaneous lesions, alopecia (in ۱۳ cases) and crust (in one case) had the highest (۵۲%) and lowest (۴%) frequency rates, respectively. ۹۲% of inoculated samples (۲۳/۲۵) were positive on fungal culture media, of which only four samples (۱۷.۳%) isolated as pathogenic fungi (Microsporum canis and Malassezia pachydermatis). In other cases, only saprophytic fungi were isolated. The highest and lowest isolated saprophytic fungal species were Aspergillus niger (۴۷.۸%) and Rhizopus (۴.۳%) and Stemphylium (۴.۳%), respectively. Also, Rhizopus and Aspergillus niger were the highest isolated fungal species in horses without any dermal lesions (۲۵%). The study showed pathogenic fungi including dermatophytes were isolated from a relatively low percentage of cutaneous lesions in horses. Saprophytic fungi are likely to play a role in horses cutaneous lesions and sometimes may cause these infections or worse them.