Puppy Diarrhea: What Causes Your Pup's Digestive Troubles
Ringworm Of Cattle
VY-56
R. L. Morter, D.V.M., C. James Callahan, D.V.M.School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University Cause
Ringworm is caused by infection of the hair and surface layers of the skin by fungi. It occurs in all species of animals including man. Fungal infections cause little, if any, permanent damage or economic loss. However, because ringworm is a transmissable infectious disease, animals with lesions are barred from exhibitions or shows by regulations of the State Board of Animal Health.
Infection of the skin and hair of cattle is most frequently due to Trichophyton verrucosum, a spore forming fungi. Spores are shed from the lesion by broken hairs or scabs from the lesion. The spores remain alive for years in a dry environment; and because they do, halters, grooming equipment, or even a barn can remain infective for years.
TransmissionDirect contact with infected animals, particularly with cattle confined to a barn, is a common method of spreading the fungi. Some infected calves have a degree of natural immunity that prevents development of lesions; however, they can be a source of infection. Show calves are frequently infected from spore contaminated equipment that has not been properly cleaned.
Spores germinate and attack the shafts of the hair and the surface layers of the skin. Exudate oozes from the damaged skin and mixes with debris from skin and hair, thereby forming a crusty scab. The scab is grey-white and noticeably higher than the surrounding skin. Infection spreads from the center outwards and results in the circular lesion 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Adjacent lesions may overlap and create larger infected areas. Lesions are most frequent on the head and neck, but they may be found over the entire body in severe cases. Scabs may fall from older lesions and leave a hairless area in the center, one that has a ring of exudate at the edge. Hence, the name ringworm.
TreatmentMany of the treatments appear successful because of spontaneous recovery shortly after treatment has been started. Ringworm is frequently severe in confined cattle during the winter; spontaneous recovery occurs in the spring and summer. Topical treatment, application of the medication directly onto the lesion, is the usual procedure. Medication cannot penetrate the crusts; the crusts should be removed by scraping or brushing. They should be collected and burned to avoid contaminating the premises. Lesions should be treated at least twice, three to five days apart. Topical application of a 2% solution of iodine, Whitfield's ointment (also used to treat athlete's foot in man), or thiabendazole paste are all suitable. Oral griseofulvin may be used but the prolonged treatment and expense of the drug make it impractical in all but valuable animals.
PreventionVaccines are not available. But, cleaning and disinfecting barns with a strong detergent followed by a solution of 1 gallon of household bleach diluted with 3 gallons of water does a good job. Halters and grooming equipment can be disinfected with bleach or a 4% solution of formaldehyde. At the first sign of the lesions of ringworm, topical treatment should be started. Reducing the density of animals and direct contact in addition to increased exposure to sunlight and being maintained on dry lots help prevent the spread between animals.
RR 5/92
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Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H.A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to our programs and facilities.
CDC: Highly Contagious, Drug-Resistant Ringworm Reported In U.S. For First Time
Trichophyton indotineae, a highly contagious and drug-resistant fungus that can cause ringworm, has ... [+] already been spreading widely in South Asia. Pictured here is a rash from a ring worm infection, otherwise known as dermatophytosis or tinea. (Photo: Getty)
gettyThere's a big difference between someone giving you a ring and someone giving you highly contagious, drug-resistant ringworm. While the former may already be quite common in the U.S., the latter had never really been reported in this country. That is until the May 12, 2023, issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reported not just one but two cases of ringworm caused by Trichophyton indotineae. These were first ever reported cases in the U.S. Of this highly contagious and drug-resistant fungus that's been causing a not-so-fun epidemic in South Asia.
That's obviously not great news. While you may congratulate someone who gets a ring, the same typically shouldn't be said to someone who gets ringworm. That's especially true when the ringworm is drug-resistant, which makes such an infection even harder to treat. And a fungal infection that's harder to treat is certainly no treat at all.
Public health officials heard of these two cases from a New York City dermatologist on February 28, 2023, which happened to be National Inconvenience Yourself Day. One of the patients, a 28-year-old woman who had no history of recent international travel, had first noticed very itchy rashes on different parts of her body back in the Summer of 2021 and then eventually saw a dermatologist in December 2021. By that time she was in her third trimester of pregnancy and had developed large, round, scaly, very itchy rashes on her neck, abdomen, pubic region, and buttocks. After oral terbinafine treatment didn't do a whole lot, doctors started her on itraconazole, which eventually helped get rid of her rashes.
The second patient, a 47-year-old woman unrelated to the first patient, had a somewhat similar history. The main difference is that while the first patient hadn't had any recent international travel, this second patient was in Bangladesh when she first noticed a widespread, itchy rash. Other family members in Bangladesh had suffered from similar rashes as well. This second patient then returned to the U.S. Where she made the "rash" decision of going to the emergency department three times during the Autumn 2022. All the treatments that she'd received— including various topical antifungal and steroid creams such as hydrocortisone 2.5% ointment and diphenhydramine, clotrimazole cream, and terbinafine cream—did not relieve her symptoms. Eventually, she saw a dermatologist in December 2022. The dermatologist's first prescribed treatment, a four-week course of oral terbinafine, didn't help much. Finally, a four-week course of griseofulvin did lead to approximately 80% improvement in her symptoms. As of the writing of the CDC MMWR, doctors were still considering treatment with itraconazole, given that testing had eventually confirmed T. Indotineae as the culprit.
If you haven't figured it out yet, having ringworm is not fun, assuming that your idea of fun isn't having red, itchy, ring-shaped rashes on different parts of your body. The "ring" in the "ringworm" name comes from these ring-shape lesions. When ringworm affects parts of your body that have hair, you can suffer hair loss. Such body parts include your scalp and those that rhyme with the words "botch" and "benitals."
The "worm" in the "ringworm" name doesn't ting completely true, though. It's actually different types of fungus that can cause ringworm rather than some kind of worm. There are many other names for ringworm because things that suck tend to have many names. For example, dermatophytosis and tinea are two general names for ringworm. When it affects the main trunk of your body, it can be called tinea corporis. When it affects your scalp, it can be called tinea capitis. When it affects your feet, it can be called athlete's foot or tinea pedis. When it affects your crotch, it can be called tinea cruris or jock itch or my-crotch-is-really-itchy.
Pictured here is ringworm affecting the forehead. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesVarious types of fungi can cause ringworm, with T. Indotineae being one of them. The CDC MMWR called T. Indotineae a novel dermatophyte species. In this case, novel means "new" and not a book like 50 Shades of Grey. As mentioned earlier, there's been an epidemic of T. Indotineae. The misuse and overuse of topical antifungal medications and corticosteroids have probably driven the spread of this drug-resistant not-so-fun fungus. While T. Indotineae infections had already been reported in Asia, Europe, and Canada, the U.S. Hadn't joined the fun until these two cases. Plus, since the first patient had no history of recent international travel, she may have gotten it from someone else in the U.S., which would mean that T. Indotineae has already been spreading in this country.
You can catch ringworm by direct contact with someone with ringworm. So don't share things like shirts, pants, skirts, sweater vests, hats, underwear, towels, combs, and jock straps with someone who is already infected. In fact, it's a bad idea to share jockstraps, underwear, or sweater vests whether or not the other person has ringworm. Getting your own jockstraps and underwear is a worthwhile investment, and no one should be wearing sweater vests anymore.
You can also get the infection from other animals that have ringworm. So don't share shirts, pants, skirts, sweater vests, hats, towels, combs, and jock straps with dogs, cats, cows, goats, pigs, and horses either when they are infected.
A third source of ringworm infections is the environment. You can find such fungi on various surfaces, especially when they are damp. Therefore, don't walk barefoot or slide crotch-first on the floors of locker rooms or public showers.
The CDC also recommends additional measure to take to prevent ringworm. This includes keeping your skin clean and dry, wearing shoes keep your feet well-ventilated, and keeping your fingernails and toenails short and clean. You should also wear clean clothes. The CDC recommends changing your socks and underwear at least once a day. This can help you prevent fungal infections and get you more dates.
Steroid creams can actually make ringworm even worse by weakening your skin and its defenses, ... [+] allowing the fungus to spread more widely and deeper in your skin. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesSpeaking of dates, if you tend to cover yourself with steroid creams before dates, be careful. Rubbing steroid creams on anything that itches or is red can be very problematic if that itchy, reddish thing happens to be ringworm, regardless of whether it is drug-resistant. Steroid creams can actually make ringworm even worse. That's because steroid creams can weaken your skin and its defenses, allowing the fungus to spread more widely and deeper in your skin. It can also give ringworm a more unusual appearance, which is less red and less scaly. This co-called tinea incognito appearance can make ringworm harder to diagnose and be mistaken for other conditions such as atopic dermatitis otherwise known as eczema. So avoid the 'roids when its ringworm.
It is important to ring the alarms about the continued overuse of various steroid and antifungal creams. This includes telling doctors to stop prescribing such creams for anything that happens to be red and itchy. And since many such creams are already widely available over-the-counter, it means warning the public as well. In other words, "it rubs the lotion (or the cream) on its skin" shouldn't always be the solution when you've got some kind of skin issue.
Are There Any Home Remedies For Ringworm?
Topical home remedies for ringworm — which a person applies to the skin — include garlic, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric. People who work with others should seek medical advice as soon as possible to prevent transmission.
Ringworm is a very common fungal infection that is not, despite its name, caused by a worm. It is caused by the fungus Tinea, which is highly contagious. Anyone can get ringworm, although some people are more susceptible than others, such as those with compromised immunity and young children.
Symptoms of ringworm include a red, scaly, circular patch on the skin or nails. It usually affects the scalp and arms, but it can appear on any part of the body. Jock itch and athlete's foot are common forms of ringworm.
While many medications are available to treat this fungal infection, natural treatments can also be effective.
Read on to discover 11 natural treatments for fungal infections, such as ringworm:
1. GarlicGarlic is often used to treat infection. Although there are no studies that examine the effects of garlic on ringworm, it has proven effective for other types of fungi, including Candida, Torulopsis, Trichophyton, and Cryptococcus.
To use garlic as a treatment, make a paste of crushed garlic cloves by blending the garlic with some olive or coconut oil. Apply a thin layer of paste to the affected skin and cover with gauze. Leave in place for up to 2 hours before rinsing. Repeat twice daily until symptoms resolve.
If the garlic paste causes stinging, swelling, or redness, rinse off immediately and do not reapply.
2. Soapy waterTo prevent ringworm from spreading or infecting other areas of the body, keep the skin as clean as possible. To do this, rinse the infection with soap and warm water once or twice daily. Be sure to dry the skin fully, as fungus thrives in moist areas.
Always clean the skin in this way before using any of the other home remedies listed below. Before using any of the following substances on the ringworm patches, a person should apply a small amount to a healthy area of skin to ensure they do not have a sensitivity or allergy to the treatment.
3. Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar has demonstrated antifungal properties against Candida, another fungal infection.
To treat ringworm with apple cider vinegar, soak a cotton wool pad in the undiluted vinegar and wipe it on the affected area. Repeat up to 3 times daily.
4. Aloe veraAloe vera contains six antiseptic agents that, according to research, exhibit antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activities.
Apply the gel from an aloe vera plant onto the ringworm patch three or four times daily. The gel also has cooling properties, so it may soothe itchy and swollen skin.
5. Coconut oilCertain fatty acids found in coconut oil may kill fungal cells by damaging their cell membranes.
Some research suggests that coconut oil may be an effective remedy for people with mild to moderate skin infections. Use it to treat ringworm by applying liquid coconut oil to the skin three times per day.
Also, people can use coconut oil as a moisturizing lotion, which may be an effective way to prevent future ringworm infections.
6. Grapefruit seed extractAnecdotal evidence suggests that grapefruit seed extract may treat fungal infections. To treat ringworm, proponents recommend mixing 1 drop of grapefruit seed extract with a tablespoon of water and applying to the skin twice daily.
7. TurmericTurmeric is a popular spice with anti-inflammatory properties. A part of turmeric known as curcumin is believed to be responsible for the spice's health benefits. Numerous studies detail its extensive antimicrobial abilities.
Consume turmeric as a tea or add it to meals to reap its benefits. For topical applications, mix it with a small amount of water or coconut oil until it forms a paste and apply this to the skin. Leave it to dry before wiping off.
Be aware that turmeric may stain lighter skin a yellow color, but this will fade within a few days.
8. Powdered licoriceA frequently used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, licorice demonstrates antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is also used as a home remedy for ringworm and other fungal infections. For best results, mix 3 tablespoons of powdered licorice root into a cup of water.
Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Once the liquid has cooled, it should form a paste.
Apply this to the ringworm patch twice a day, allowing it to sit for at least 10 minutes each time before wiping or rinsing off.
9. Tea tree oilNative Australians have used tea tree oil as a remedy for many bacterial and fungal skin conditions for almost a century. Today, tea tree oil is both popular and effective in treating ringworm.
Make a 2 percent dilution of tea tree oil by mixing 12 drops of the essential oil with 1 ounce of a cold-pressed carrier oil, such as coconut oil. Apply this to the skin three times daily.
Those who do not have sensitive skin may be able to apply the tea tree oil directly to the affected skin without diluting it first.
10. Oil of oreganoOil of oregano that is made from wild oregano (Origanum vulgare) contains two strong antifungals called thymol and carvacrol.
Some research has shown that oil of oregano can stop the growth of the fungus Candida albicans. Always dilute oil of oregano with a carrier oil before use. Apply the oil to the affected area up to three times daily.
Note that the majority of oil of oregano on the market contains common oregano (Origanum marjoram) rather than wild oregano.
11. Lemongrass oilLemongrass essential oil has been shown to reduce the activity of several types of fungus. To use lemongrass oil for ringworm, mix it with a carrier oil, and apply it to the skin twice daily with a cotton ball.
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