Abstract

The study investigated the prevalence and distribution of dermatophytes among domestic horses in Kwara state, Nigeria. A total of 91 samples were collected which comprised of skin scrapings and hair from both infected and asymptomatic animals. The highest dermatophyte isolation rate per total samples collected from each of the 7 different Local Government Area (LGAs) was 25% for Ilorin-East. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the number of dermatophyte isolates obtained from the seven different LGAs. Dermatophytic lesions were observed on four anatomical sites of the body of horses that were sampled. These sites were the limbs, tail, head and abdominal region with dermatophyte isolation rate per total samples collected being 18.7%, 16%, 15% and 10%, respectively. Out of 85 male horses sampled, 12 were positive, and out of the six female horses sampled, two were positive. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p ˃ 0.05) between the total dermatophytes isolated from male (14.1%) or female (33.3%) horses from the seven LGAs in Kwara state. Dermatophytes isolated include Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton soudanense, M. gypseum, Microsporum persicolor, Microsporum equinum and Microsporum fulvum with Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton soudanense being anthropophilic.

Keywords: Dermatophytes, Distribution, Horses, Prevalence, Kwara state, Nigeria