First report of generalized dermatophylosis in a horse from Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil

Abstract

The present paper aimed to report the first case of generalized dermatophylosis caused by Dermatophilus congolensis in a horse in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The information’s are from an 11-year-old stallion weighing 350 kg and raised intensively. Clinical exam reveals tachycardia, tachypnea with humid creptations in the ventral areas, fever and hyperemic mucous. Meanwhile, dermatological exam showed infiltrative lesions in the follicular region with detachment of hair tufts with exudates fluids and large amount of crusts distributed mainly in the face, neck, lateral fascia of the thorax, rump and pelvic members. Hematology reveals normocitic and normochromic anemia, besides of an absolute neutrophilia and lymphopenia. The etiological agent was determinate by skin scraping colored by Gram staining. The authors reiterate that a dermatological examination properly executed associated to the epidemiological findings and laboratorial exams (skin scraping, Gram staining and biopsy) are essential to the definitive diagnose of equine dermatopathies. Keywords: Bacterial diseases, Dermatophilus congolensis, exudative dermatitis, skin lesions.