Dermatophytosis is uncommon in asymptomatic wild eastern cottontail rabbits in Illinois, Midwestern United States

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE To investigate the presence of dermatophytes on the haircoat of wild eastern cottontail rabbits (ECR) (Sylvilagus floridanus) with and without skin lesions. ANIMALS 2-week-old or older ECR admitted to a Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC) in central Illinois, Midwest United States, from September 2021 to August 2022. METHODS ECR were surveyed over a 1-year period to assess the prevalence and seasonality of dermatophytosis. A Wood's lamp exam was performed over the haircoat. Hairs were sampled with a sterile toothbrush and plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The plates were photographed twice weekly for 3 weeks, and colonies were identified as contaminants or dermatophytes. RESULTS 523 ECR were admitted to WMC, 141 ECR met the age inclusion criteria, and 121 samples were plated. ECR presented as a litter were sampled together. None of the sampled ECR presented skin lesions other than acute traumatic wounds. No fluorescence was observed on any ECR during the Wood's lamp examination. Based on culture colony morphology, 115/121 of the samples were identified as contaminants and no growth was observed in 6/121 of plates. Dermatophytes' colonies were not identified on any of the culture plates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dermatophytes are zoonotic fungi and can potentially be carried by wild animals. The fungal infection poses a health concern to humans and domestic pets through direct interaction. Our current results suggest that dermatophytosis may not be prevalent in asymptomatic wild rabbits in the studied areas of the Midwestern United States.