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Abstract In a study on zoonotic importance of dermatophytes in Suez Canal Area, a total of 317 animals of different species (175 animals clinically showing ringworm lesions and 142 apparently healthy ones) were submitted for mycological examination. The overall occurrence rates of dermatophytes among the animals clinically showing ringworm lesions were 74.9% and 66.3% by direct microscopy and cultural examinations respectively, with the highest frequency of occurrence was recorded among young animals aged less than one year in comparison with older ones. Infection reaches its peak during autumn and winter months comparing with other months of the year. The isolated dermatophytes were T. verrucosum and M. canis. While T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, M. canis and M. gypseum were isolated from apparently healthy animals with an overall dermatophyte culturally positive rate of 7.04%. On the other hand, a total of 260 human patients clinically diagnosed as having Tinea were examined mycologically. The overall occurrence rates were 81.5% and 61.9% as examined by direct microscopy and cultural examinations respectively. T. violaceum, M. canis, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans, T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum, M. audouinii and E. floccosum were isolated from human patients. The zoophilic dermatophytes; M. canis, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum represented about one third of the total dermatophyte isolates from human in this study. from a total of 40 soil samples examined mycologically, M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum were isolated with an overall occurrence rate of 27.5%. Some appropriate control measures were suggested for control and prevention of dermatophyte infections in human and animals. Key words Zoonoses، dermatophytes and Suez Canal Area. |