Zoophilic dermatophytes and their natural hosts in Western Australia

Zoophilic dermatophytes were a common source of both human and animal ringworm infections in Western Australia. Microsporum canis was the chief aetiologic agent of infections in kittens and children. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from domestic pets, farm animals, laboratory animals and wild animals as well as humans. T. verrucosum was a less frequent cause of infection in both man and animals. Other zoophilic species isolated included M. Gypseum, M. nanum and T. equinum var. autotrophicum.