Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed to isolate and characterize equine dermatophytes from the Nigerian Defence Academy Equitation Wing, Kaduna.

Method and Materials: This study was conducted at the Equitation Wing, NDA using 40 infected horses comprising both sexes aged 5 to 15 years and weighing 400 – 600kg. Using standard procedures, body temperatures were taken, skin of each horse was clinically examined and dermatophytes were isolated and characterized from skin scrappings of the head, body and leg.

Results: The average body temperatures recorded ranged from 37.1 - 38.1°C and lesions observed on the skin were hair loss, red sores and excessive sweating. Two different Aspergillus oryzae from the head region, A. flavus from the body region and Cladosporium cladosporioides from the leg region were isolated. The two A. oryzae isolated from the head region had base pair lengths of 559 bp and 459 bp, suggestive of mutation. Aspergillus flavus and A. oryzae are anthropophilic and more or less conventional form of dermatophytes believed to be opportunistic and a human pathogen.

Conclusion: It was concluded that A. oryzae was the most commonly occurring dermatophytes followed by A. flavus and C. cladosporioides. The isolation of these fungal species revealed that A. oryzae, A. flavus and C. cladosporioides could cause dermatophytosis in horse.

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