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VetVine Client Care
Ringworm In Persian Cats - Susceptibility To Dermatophytes And Asymptomatic Carriers
Dermatology
Ringworm is a common fungal disease that causes great frustration for many cat owners. The Texas A&M Persian Ringworm Study aimed to answer questions about how and why Persian cats develop chronic and severe ringworm more often than other breeds. The study included recruitment of Persians with and without ringworm and continued through March 2019.
It had long been suspected that ringworm in Persian cats had a genetic basis, but this was not been researched prior to this study. The main objective of this study was to search for a genetic mutation that may be predisposing at least some Persians to more severe disease. This study used a technique referred to as “next generation sequencing” to examine all of the DNA from each cat in the study (DNA obtained via cheek swabs). The DNA from Persians with severe disease were compared to those who never develop it or develop only mild disease even when exposed to ringworm. DNA from these groups of Persians was also compared to DNA from other cat breeds.
One particularly important group of Persians are those that develop a rare form of ringworm characterized by large, firm bumps in and under the skin. These bumps contain large amounts of the ringworm fungus and inflammation and are called ‘pseudomycetomas.’ Persians are essentially the only breed affected by this rare form of ringworm, and the study hoped to include several cats with this form as they would be most likely to have a potential genetic mutation.
Another objective of the study was to investigate how often DNA of the ringworm fungus itself can be detected on the skin and hair of Persians with and without signs of ringworm. Skin swabs from each Persian were collected for analysis of all the fungal DNA present (microbiome analysis). This type of analysis can provide information about how often healthy Persians have ringworm spores on their hair/coat, what other fungi are normally present on the skin, and whether the fungal populations on the skin are different between the different groups of Persians. Fungal culture was also performed for each cat, and this sample was obtained by brushing the hair coat with a toothbrush. Lastly, swabs of each cat’s environment (e.g., bedding) were also obtained when possible to analyze the fungal DNA in the environment.
In summary, the results from this study support that severe ringworm has a genetic basis in Persians, and that mutations affecting the S100A antimicrobial peptides, particularly S100A9, may be the culprit. Additional work will be needed to validate these findings. If altered S100A9 function is borne out in additional studies, the investigators could begin to develop strategies, including genetic testing, to combat the disease in catteries, shelters, and homes worldwide.
Winn Feline Foundation funded research. Principal Investigators: Drs. Aline Rodrigues Hoffman, Dr. William Murphy; Texas A&M University
Reference: An ancient haplotype containing antimicrobial peptide gene variants is associated with severe fungal skin disease in Persian cats - PLoS Genet. 2022 Feb 14;18(2):e1010062. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010062