Microsporum cams was first reported in Korea in 1957, but no animal contacts were reported and since then, only sporadic occurrences of M. cans have reported. However, cat and human infections from M. cans have gradually become more prevalent lately.
Recently author, reported 3 cases of T. capitis, 2 cases of Ke´non Celsi, 13 cases of T. corporis in human and 4 cases of infected kittens, with M. cans isolated as -the causative organism. Clinical and mycological observations of both patients and kittens were reported as follows:
The infections with M. cans were exclusively reported in kittens, not in adult cats. Two of the infected kittens showed obvious signs of undernourishment, physical retardation and prostration. Infectivity among cats or kittens was very low while cat to human infectivity was very high.
The human T. capitis exhibited round, erythematous lesions with complete loss of hair, very similar to lesions of alopecia areata, These lesions were uniformly smaller than a walnut in size. The T. corporis exhibited typical, moderately inflamed ringshaped, singular or multiple lesions.
The incubation period was estimated at approximately 3-7 days.
In humans, ectothrix growth was reported while the opposite endothrix growth was observed in the kitten and rabbit.
Experimental animal inoculations were performed: Rabbit inoculated with M. Can-is resulted in typical ringshaped lesions appearing 10 days after inoculation. These lesions were completely gone in 4 weeks but infected hairs still remained. Guinea pig inoculation resulted in non-typical lesions covered with ser osanguinous crusts, but rat inoculation showed no signs of infectivity.
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