What kind of lichen can you get from a cat and how to treat it?

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If a cat has hairless areas on its body, peeling, redness, itching of the skin, there is a high probability that the pet has contracted lichen .

Ringworm is a highly contagious mycotic disease that affects both animals and humans. The causative agent of the disease is a microscopic fungus of a certain type. Depending on the type of fungus, the disease looks and is treated differently. The same ringworm in a cat can be caused by different fungi.

First, the skin is damaged, then the disease spreads to the fur and claws. First of all, weak or injured animals catch the disease, but good health does not guarantee that the disease will pass by.

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The problem is very serious, and the disease is easily transmitted from cat to person, so when the first symptoms are detected, treatment begins.

Where does a cat get lichen from?

The spores remain viable in unfavorable natural environmental conditions for about two years. The fungus gets onto the animal's fur from the fur of other cats, or from an area where the pet often visits. Disputes can settle on furniture and any area of ​​the apartment. The fungi are viable for about two years, but as soon as they enter a warm, humid environment, they wake up and become infected.

The disease may not manifest itself at first, but after 2-3 months the first signs will become noticeable. Most often, kittens suffer from lichen due to their underdeveloped immune system, weakened older cats, infected with parasites or lacking proper nutrition. Thus, the disease wanders from animal to animal endlessly, unless a person intervenes and treats the pet or its immunity, breaking the chain.

Genetic weakness of immunity to fungal diseases plays a role; exotic breeds are especially vulnerable.

Reasons for the development of pink lichen of Zhiber

Although the disease has been known for a long time, its pathogenesis still remains unclear. Various factors and pathogens have been proposed as causes:

• infectious;
• viral;
• bacterial;
• fungal;
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae;
• “toxic rash due to unknown gastrointestinal infection”;
• insect bites;
• isomorphic response;
• autoimmune disease;
• psychogenic cause.

Insect bite
Early research suggested a connection to new, unused clothing. Lassar and Rosenthal attributed this role to flannel and knitwear.

The development of a peculiar skin plaque was observed at the site of insect bites, especially fleas, as well as on old scars, with healing gunshot wounds, and at the site of intramuscular injections, which suggests that pink dandruff is simply an isomorphic reaction.

Some scientists have tried to show that pityriasis rosea is a psychogenic disease and is more common in "highly stressed" or mentally ill people. According to them, stress can aggravate the lesion and cause itching. Others consider the psychosomatic theory unlikely.

Attempts have also been made to hypothesize that RP is a “toxic rash of gastrointestinal infection,” the result of dietary error and gastric dilatation.

In 1970, Birch and Rowell postulated an autoimmune cause of the disease, in which the predisposition was genetically determined and sensitized by microorganisms.

However, the infectious background of the disease is most widely considered. Clinical features of the pathology, such as the irregular occurrence of prodromal symptoms and the severity of morbidity in the autumn-spring period, indicate a viral etiology. There appears to be an association with a recent upper respiratory tract infection in some patients.

The spread of the disease in the family, among children at school, among soldiers in the barracks, among people using Turkish baths has not been confirmed, so many experts believe that it is a non-infectious disease.

However, pityriasis rosea has been found to be more common among dermatologists than among otolaryngologists, suggesting that it is spread through contact with low infectivity, leading to increased incidence with increasing number of contacts.

In addition, the pathology is more common in people with weakened immune systems, for example, pregnant women and patients with bone marrow transplantation. Spontaneous resolution and relapses, occurring in less than 3% of patients, are also consistent with the theory of a viral origin of the disease.

There is some objective evidence to support the viral theory of the disease. In 1968, scientists demonstrated the presence of picornavirus-like intranuclear bodies in the tissues of African green monkeys inoculated with a liquid that affected the color of the lesions, and in electronic sections of these lesions. However, none of the studies have identified the genome of picornaviruses. Pityriasis rosea has also been described in a patient with proven Echo virus infection.

The HHS-7 virus, a Roseola virus from betaherpesviruses, is also suspected. Viruses of this family cause acute and chronic infections. They can also remain latent for many years, and a weakened immune system leads to their activation. HHS viruses have been detected in children with RP and adults with pink dandruff in serum, white blood cells, and biopsies of skin lesions.

However, the relationship between pityriasis rosea and HHS-7 remains controversial according to some scientists, due to the low DNA sequence index of HHS-7. The virus has also been detected in the plasma of healthy people.

It has been suggested that the disease is associated with bacterial infection, including syphilis and tuberculosis. In 1942, student. Benedek explained the occurrence of the disease by the reactivation of latent foci of Baccillus endoparasiticus.

The role of Staphylococcus albus and hemolytic streptococci was also increased. In recent years, infections with Legionella micadadei, L. longbeachae, L. pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumonie, Ch. trachomatis, but the opinions of dermatologists about their role in the pathogenesis of RP are divided. Thus, the issue of the involvement of these microorganisms requires further research.

The clinical appearance of the mother's plate, with morphological features often resembling a lesion of mycosis, especially ringworm, suggests that the cause of pink dandruff may be a fungal infection.

Some medications also sometimes cause skin lesions similar to pityriasis rosea. Among them:

• captopril;
• metronidazole;
• isotretinoin;
• D-penicillamine;
• levamisole;
• diphtheria toxoid;
• bismuth;
• gold;
• barbiturates;
• ketotifen;
• clonidine;
• terbinafine;
• omeprazole

Pityriasis rosea has been reported following administration of BCG, IFN-alpha and hepatitis B vaccines.

Now scientists are inclined to conclude that such a reaction of the body can be caused by various factors, and this is very important to take into account when diagnosing pathology. By identifying the suspected cause, you can quickly and permanently get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

The most likely reasons are a weakened immune system and the activation of one of the types of herpes viruses against this background. Therefore, it is necessary to consider all causes that weaken the immune system.

Can a person get shingles from a cat?

It is not difficult for ringworm spores to get on the bare skin of a person, which, unlike animals, is not protected by fur. The infection reaches a person from an infected cat even during the incubation period when touching the fur. Therefore, it is important to understand that an animal that has contracted lichen becomes a carrier of the disease even at the earliest stage.

Immunity plays a big role: children and older people are more susceptible to fungal spores. Treatment is long-term; even a mild form, if treatment is ineffective, develops into a chronic form, which will certainly affect health.

How is ringworm transmitted?

Ringworm is transmitted in two ways:

• from a sick animal – zoonotic with an incubation period of one week;
• from an infected person – anthroponotic with an incubation period of up to 6 weeks.

Children are at risk because they most often come into contact with the carriers of the pathogens of this disease - cats and dogs. Children's skin is characterized by low density of the stratum corneum and weak protective properties of the water-lipid mantle. The stratum corneum prevents the penetration of the fungus into the layers of the skin, since its spores are located between the horny scales, and the water-lipid mantle forms a barrier to the penetration of pathogens.

The infection is also transmitted by non-compliance with personal hygiene standards and the use of other people's personal belongings containing fungal spores (hats, combs, bed linen, etc.).

Types of lichen in cats

The microorganisms that cause the development of lichen in cats are called Trichophyton, Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum. The first pathogen gives the consonant name of the disease trichophathia, and as a result of the influence of Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum, microsporia is detected. All three types have identical symptoms, and the ringworm is called ringworm.

In addition to the most common ringworm, there is also pink, oozing, pityriasis versicolor and herpes zoster. Each type has its own external signs and treatment methods.

Ringworm in cats

The fungal disease defined as ringworm in cats also has another name - dermatophytosis. The disease appears as a result of activation of fungi of the genus Microsporum (microsporia) and Trichophyton (trichophyton), penetrating into the superficial subcutaneous layers and feeding on the upper epithelium of the skin.

The disease is especially dangerous for cats with long hair - long hair makes it difficult to discern pathological inflammatory changes on the skin in time.

Ringworm or clipped lichen is a collective image. This term refers to a dermatophytosis range of different pathogens. The fungus, once on the fur, can hide and not show itself for a long time, although the pet will be a source of disease for humans. Externally, in a person, the affected area resembles a ring in shape and necessarily requires treatment.

Symptoms of ringworm

Initially, lichen spots appear on the ears or limbs of cats, resembling scales or grayish ash. The affected areas can be located in different places, and the typical signs of each type are not distinguished separately. Sometimes small ulcers may appear. A small spot gradually grows. Itching is not necessary. When the claws are affected, their abnormal growth and deformation are noticeable.

Most often in cats, ringworm is located on the head, ears or tail. The spots can stretch out, pass through the muzzle, or in advanced cases cover the entire body. The skin at the site of the lesion is greasy and very flaky. Wool can fall out actively and at an average rate; hairballs often form.

Despite the external characteristic signs of lichen, the specialist conducts research and analyzes all data for an accurate diagnosis. The most commonly used method for identifying ringworm in cats is using a Wood's lamp, in the light of which the fungi fluoresce. Trichophytosis does not react to this lamp, and a fungus can be detected on the fur of a healthy pet, although the cat is not infected, so the material from the affected area is examined under a microscope and the fungus is inoculated into a special identification medium.

Treatment of ringworm

It is imperative to treat such a contagious disease, as it can cause many complications. The approach to treatment should be systematic and comprehensive: the treatment regimen includes local and internal antimycotic drugs.

The first step is to treat the affected areas: the hair around them is shaved off and the area is treated with an antiseptic. For a global external attack on the source of the disease, the cat is washed with antifungal shampoo, for example, Nizoral and Sebozol, developed specifically for these purposes. The benefits of these shampoos are based on the component ketoconazole, which actively acts on various fungi.

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Antifungal shampoo alone is not enough; it is only an additional measure to combat diseases, helping to relieve itching and improve the condition of the animal’s skin and coat.

Local treatment is based on taking ointments with an antifungal spectrum of action: Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Sanoderm. The ointments are suitable for both short-haired cat breeds that have contracted lichen infection, and long-haired ones.

The diet of a sick cat should include an additional vitamin and mineral complex.

Contact with other pets and household members is prohibited. Anyone who undertakes to treat an animal must take precautions and wear gloves. The room where the pet is kept must be sanitized regularly.

Pityriasis rosea in cats

A type of herpes zoster, not dangerous to humans , has a complex nature. The cause of the disease is not fungal spores or other microorganisms. First, a pink, clearly defined spot with a diameter of up to 2 cm is noticed on the cat, which can flake and itch. The edges of the spots may be separated by scales.

Pityriasis rosea in cats appears as a result of allergic or infectious factors. The virus can be transmitted to another sick animal, and a cat with a severely weakened immune system is susceptible to the disease. For other animals, this form of the disease, also called Zhiber's lichen, is contagious. But a cat with good immunity is not at risk of transmitting the disease, so the best treatment is proper nutrition for your furry pet.

Pityriasis rosea in a cat can become a kind of indicator of the health of the owner's pet - probably a healthy-looking cat has some hidden pathologies and there is a need for a thorough health check by a veterinarian.

Although a person is not in danger of contracting this type of disease, it is better to protect the animal from other family members until it has fully recovered.

Treatment of pityriasis rosea

Pityriasis rosea is not so terrible, since it is quite capable of disappearing on its own without human intervention. But this is typical for a mild form of the disease.

Since the animal that has contracted the infection is weakened, adjustments are made to its diet: first they include light food, completely removing dry food and allergens. This measure will help relieve itching. Administration of antihistamines is acceptable. If the itching is unbearable and the animal scratches continuously, the veterinarian prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which do not treat the disease, but help cope with its manifestations.

A sick cat is not allowed outside, any water treatments are stopped, contact with pets is limited, and care is also taken to ensure that the animal does not lie on the windowsill in the sun.

They especially carefully monitor their diet, selecting vitamin and mineral supplements to boost their pet’s immunity.

Apricot or sea buckthorn oils will help relieve itching and alleviate the condition of exhausted skin.

Ringworm in cats

This skin lesion is not considered lichen in the full sense, because it is caused not by fungi, but by hormonal imbalance, a breakdown of the nervous system, the presence of various parasites or allergies. The disease can also be caused by burns, frostbite, vitamin deficiency or even hypervitaminosis, or be a consequence of a previous illness.

For humans, the so-called weeping eczema is not dangerous.

This type is manifested by the appearance of compacted areas of pink-red skin, with blisters and pustules on the surface.

The disease is characterized by compacted areas of skin, colored pinkish-red, and there may also be the presence of blisters and pustules on the surface. When opened, the wounds ooze and are painful for the pet.

The disease may be accompanied by a feverish state.

Symptoms of weeping lichen

First, red spots are noticed on the animal’s body; their temperature is higher than on other areas of the skin. When the owner tries to touch the spots, the pet’s protest will become obvious - the lesion is very painful.

The area may vary in size, but will be completely blistered and appear wet. When the vesicles rupture, fluid is released, the skin becomes infected, and pustules form.

After treatment, a crust will form at the site of the lesion, but cell renewal will contribute to the rapid growth of new hair.

Treatment of weeping lichen

Treatment must be systematic, stable and in full compliance with the regimen. If the systematicity of the procedures is violated, the disease will drag on and progress with temporary remissions and relapses.

It would be wise to consult a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and treatment regimen. Therapy for the disease is quite simple: ointments with a drying effect are used for home treatment.

Salicylic ointment (2-, 5-, 10 percent) is an affordable antiseptic with an astringent effect that will relieve inflammation in a short time. It will take 10-12 days for the skin to recover. The treatment is carried out twice a day, and the area around the lesion is smeared.

An effective remedy with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimycotic effects is sulfur ointment. The affected areas are treated twice a day for 2-3 weeks. The spot should disappear without a trace, only after this the therapy can be stopped. To prevent the cat from deciding to taste the ointment, you can shave the hair around the spot and make an application, securing it with a band-aid.

Ichthyol ointment is considered a proven remedy that can defeat weeping eczema in a pet in 10 days. Smear it on sore spots twice a day. No less effective is tar ointment, which easily copes with fungi and helps restore the skin. The course of treatment is 10 days.

Pityriasis versicolor in cats

Pityriasis versicolor or pityriasis versicolor in cats can be easily transmitted to both other animals and humans. However, it is not a common disease among pet fur babies. However, at the slightest suspicion of the pityriasis variety, immediately contact a veterinarian, fearing unpleasant consequences for the cat’s health.

A small oval spot found on a cat's body can be pink, pale yellow or even brown. Soon there are more spots, and they gradually merge into one.

This disease is caused by infection with a fungus (yeast), which is of a very pathogenic nature. Surprisingly, fungal spores can be found on the skin of almost every person or animal, but they can only manifest themselves in cases of serious immune disorders. Seborrheic skin and a humid, hot climate are considered especially favorable for the progression of the disease.

Symptoms of pityriasis versicolor

The symptoms of this variety are easily distinguishable:

• multi-colored spots appearing on the skin of the body;
• sometimes the spots look somewhat discolored;
• the surface of the spots can be smooth or resemble scales;
• when the air temperature drops, the lesions disappear and then reappear;
• the absence of itching is considered a characteristic sign for the correct diagnosis of the disease.

Treatment of pityriasis versicolor

In order to cure such cat lichen , medicinal ointments, liniments, powders and antifungal shampoos are used. Sometimes veterinarians recommend oral medications. Treatment is prescribed depending on the factors of the lesion: size, location of the spots, thickness.

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It is recommended to cut cats with long hair during illness - this way it is more likely that the owner will not miss the stain during external treatment.

External treatment products are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Their composition is effective only for mild cases of infection, so treatment must be comprehensive. Oral remedies allow you to cope with the disease many times faster, saving time, effort and financial costs.

Such products as Imaverol (based on enilconazole) and Lime Sulfur (based on hydrogen sulfide of lime) have proven themselves to be excellent.

However, it is worth considering the possibility of side effects, therefore it is recommended to use such drugs strictly after visiting and consulting a veterinarian.

To prevent a possible relapse, the cat is washed 2-3 times a month with antifungal shampoos, especially if the animal lives in a humid and hot climate.

Shingles in cats

For some reason, there is still a misconception around the world that shingles is the privilege of cats and dogs. This type of infectious disease affects only people - the disease is caused by the chickenpox virus. No matter how much they want, cats cannot become infected with it.

There is a possibility that some other type common to pets is attributed to shingles in cats.

How does ringworm begin?

Favorable conditions contribute to the introduction and reproduction of a pathogenic fungus in the skin, triggering the infectious process. In the initial stages, this period is asymptomatic. After which the development of the pathology acquires clinical manifestations, the signs of which depend on the stage of the pathology.

The stages of the infectious process during the development of ringworm are:

• incubation period;
• period of mushroom growth;
• refractory stage (period of insensitivity, rest);
• regression.

In the skin, the fungus forms branched mycelium, which gradually invades new areas of the skin, while old lesions become the location of its spores. This period of fungal growth is determined by the rapid increase in the colony of the pathogen, active division of skin cells and the high rate of exfoliation of the affected epidermis.

Since most often the growth of the colony outstrips the rate of change of the stratum corneum, the infectious process spreads. An intense immune reaction (inflammation) in the lesion is displayed in the form of a red ring, which, in the chronic course of mycosis, becomes the permanent residence of the pathogen.

If lichen in pregnant cats

Caring for cat offspring excludes the use of antifungal agents in a pregnant cat infected with lichen. In this case, herbal medicine comes to the fore. Traditional medicine treated this disease before the development of industrial medicines, so you can rely on proven herbs: oregano, burdock, yarrow, tricolor violet, common valerian and some others.

Herbs can be combined in a recipe or used individually.

Stinging nettle, oregano, tricolor violet - these effective herbs are used in dried form. Take 1 part of each herb and mix. Brew 2 tbsp in 500 ml of boiling water. dry raw materials. After 20 minutes of infusion, the medicine is filtered and offered to the cat up to 4 times a day in the form of a warm drink half an hour before meals. Treatment is continued until recovery.

If the cat refuses to drink, then it is advisable to include valerian in the recipe.

Lesions can be treated externally with diluted tea tree oil. This is an excellent antimycotic agent, but it is not used in its pure form, but diluted in olive or peach oil (4 drops per tablespoon). Apply stains three times a day until they disappear completely.

Treatment of lichen at home

To cure your pet you will need to follow a number of rules:

• The room where the cat is kept must be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Sterility is the enemy of fungi;
• ointments and sprays are used to treat foci of the pet’s disease 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks;
• wash the cat with antifungal shampoos twice a week for 6 weeks;
• Injections against feline lichen . There are contraindications for pregnant women, nursing kittens and kittens under 2 months. The prices for lichen vaccines for cats are low, but the effect is excellent;
• the use of griseofulvin, itraconazole, and ketonazole tablets. The drugs are given every 12 hours at a dose of 5-10 mg per 1 kg of body weight;
• stains can be treated with iodine, which will promote their speedy healing.

Symptoms of pityriasis

Clinical manifestations of pityriasis rosea are caused by exposure to infectious pathogens and the development of allergic reactions. The skin disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

• General weakness, enlarged lymph nodes, elevated body temperature.
• The formation on the body of small pinkish and mauve spots that have a symmetrical shape and appear along Langer’s lines. Rashes appear on the back, limbs, chest, neck, groin and other parts of the body.
• The appearance on the skin of 2-3 bright red maternal plaques (their diameter is 4 cm), dotted with scales. After a week, small pink rashes form from these large spots.
• Dropout spots spread throughout the body and increase in size (their diameter is 1-2 cm), can peel off, and resemble medallions in shape.
• Severe skin itching.
• Increased irritability.

With proper therapy, the symptoms of pityriasis disappear after 5-8 weeks, and the patient fully recovers. Longer therapy is required if the rash has dense nodules, blisters or papules. In exceptional cases, pityriasis rosea turns into eczema, purulent inflammation of the skin, folliculitis, streptococcal infections, etc. develop. The development of complications is facilitated by the patient’s excessive sweating, a tendency to allergies, constant friction of the skin and improper treatment.

If a person is infected with shingles

A person who keeps furry pets in the house must be prepared for the fact that some diseases can spread from a sick cat to all family members.

Treatment of a person infected with lichen from a cat is carried out in parallel with the treatment of a pet. Complex therapy is used:

• all sore spots are treated with antifungal ointments, iodine, fucarcin;
• during treatment, do not take a bath or rub the skin with a washcloth;
• take antifungal and antihistamines orally;
• The diet includes a complex of vitamins.

Prevention of feline lichen

Deprivation in a cat can be avoided thanks to preventive measures:

• the house must be clean, and the cat’s sleeping area must be disinfected regularly;
• furniture surfaces are wiped with a bleach solution once a week;
• It is not advisable for the pet to have contact with stray cats and dogs;
• The cat's diet must be balanced and contain all important vitamins, micro- and macroelements.
• Preventive measures also include regular examination by a veterinarian, who can immediately detect the first symptoms of an incipient disease and prescribe adequate treatment.

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As already mentioned, the disease is more often contracted by animals with weakened immune systems, as well as kittens and older cats. This is a risk group that requires more attentive care and quality nutrition.

How is ringworm treated?

In each case, treatment for ringworm should be selected individually, since its composition and duration have their own specifics and are determined by the type, location and stage of the pathology.

Only prescriptions from a dermatologist are effective; they take into account the current clinical picture, the characteristics of the patient’s physical health and his age.

Therapy is aimed not only at relieving the symptoms of the pathology, but also at inactivating the pathogen. The chronic form of the disease also provides support for the immune system, normalization of metabolism and hormonal levels.

The following groups of drugs are used to treat ringworm:

• systemic and local antimycotics;
• antiseptic solutions;
• multivitamin complexes.