Ringworm - Infection of the Skin

Ringworm is an infection of the skin. The common name, "ringworm", is somewhat confusing since the disease is NOT caused by a worm, but rather by one of several species of fungi. The medical term for infection is "dermatophytosis". Causative fungi are sometimes found as normal inhabitants of soil. However, more often than not, contaminated households, kennels and catteries readily serve as sources of infection, as decontamination of these areas can be extremely difficult. Some infections can be spread from a single animal to another animal or rarely, to a human. The disease itself has a very low mortality but in ill-thrifty animals, invasion of the compromised outer skin layers by other organisms is possible and severe illness may ensue. Ringworm is the most common infectious skin disease of cats.

The fungus that causes Ringworm can be cultured from the hair coats of normal dogs and cats. These pets might be carriers of the disease to other pets along with people. We tend to see the problem more in young animals.

People will sometimes pick up a case of Ringworm from their pet, but just because a pet has Ringworm does not necessarily mean that the people that interact with that pet will develop the problem. A dog or cat can transmit Ringworm to a person without showing any symptoms at all.