Antifungal resistance and clinical significance in small animals

Abstract

In conjunction with the increasing number of immunosuppressive diseases in human and animal populations, fungal diseases have also been rising. Despite the introduction of new antifungal agents in recent years, the incidence of fungal infections continues to increase, and subsequently, the prevalence of resistance to these drugs is remarkably increased, posing significant health concerns. While antifungal drug resistance is of great importance in human medicine, especially against Candida spp., there are few studies about antifungal resistance in veterinary medicine. Indeed, several fungal infections in dogs have been reported, especially in cases of neutropenia associated with the usage of cyclophosphamide or parvoviral enteritis infection. ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine, the mainly used antifungal drugs in treating dermatomycosis, have been encountered in feline and canine medicine. However, it has been reported that the desired success could not be obtained from the treatments applied in various cases in recent years. This review aimed to emphasize the role of the development of resistance against antifungal agents on treatment failures. In this context, monitoring of antifungal resistance in veterinary clinics and animal facilities by veterinarians and other animal health authorities is recommended