A clinical trial using griseofulvin and terbinafine in the treatment of canine and feline dermatophytosis

Abstract

Dermatophytoses in domestic carnivores are superficial infections caused mainly by two genera of fungi: Microsporum spp and Trichophyton spp. This disease is an anthropozoonosis important for public health. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of griseofulvin and terbinafine in the therapy of dermatophytosis. Thirty five animals were included in three protocols of treatment. Griseofulvin (50mg kg-1 day-1) was effective in 100% of the cases, with no side effects. The average time for cure was 41 days. Terbinafine used at a dosage of 5mg kg-1 day-1 showed an efficacy of 81.3%. No side effects were observed and the average time for cure was 21 days. The same efficacy using a dosage of 20mg kg-1 day -1 of terbinafine was observed, although side effects were seen in 16.6% of the animals treated with an average time for cure of 33 days. The present study demonstrated that terbinafine is a good therapeutic alternative, although griseofulvin is still the first choice drug for the treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats.