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13 August 2021 Itching for Recognition: Dermatophytosis Identified in an Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) Population in Texas
Bonnie E. Gulas-Wroblewski, Melinda D. Luper, Alexandra A. Gibson, J. Clint Perkins, Robert C. Dowler
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Abstract

The diversity, clinical manifestations, and impact on overall health of pathogenic fungi in Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk [ESS]) have been poorly investigated. Herein, we describe the first reported cases of fungal dermatitis in ESS from a population in southeastern Texas. In 2016, two of 3 ESS live-trapped in Harris County, TX, exhibited symptoms consistent with dermatophytosis. We isolated fungus from 1 of 2 cultures grown from scraped samples of infected ESS skin and morphologically identified it as Microsporum canis. Reviewing local wildlife rehabilitation records, we were able to confirm the prevalence of dermatophytosis within local mephitid populations. We examine the implications of the discovery of a zoonotic fungal pathogen in ESS in light of its importance in wildlife medicine as well as its ramifications for the health of domestic animals and humans.

Bonnie E. Gulas-Wroblewski, Melinda D. Luper, Alexandra A. Gibson, J. Clint Perkins, and Robert C. Dowler "Itching for Recognition: Dermatophytosis Identified in an Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) Population in Texas," Southeastern Naturalist 20(sp11), 191-198, (13 August 2021). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.020.0sp1116
Published: 13 August 2021
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