Dermatophytes in clinically healthy laboratory animals

Mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits that were apparently healthy and did not present skin lesions were examined for the presence of dermatophytes. A small proportion of them were found to be carriers of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis (8/140 = 5.7% of mice; 2/185=1.1% of rats; 1/70=1.4% of guinea pigs; 1/215=0.5% of rabbits).