zoonoses and communicable diseases common to ... - PAHO/WHO

DERMATOPHILOSISICD-10 A48.8 other specified bacterial diseasesSynonyms: Streptothrichosis, mycotic dermatitis (in sheep).Etiology: Dermatophilus congolensis (D. dermatonomus, D. pedis) is a bacteriumbelonging to the order Actinomycetales. It is facultatively anaerobic, grampositive,and non–acid-fast. D. congolensis is characterized by branched filamentswith transverse and longitudinal septation. When the filaments mature, they fragmentand release motile, flagellate spores, called zoospores, which constitute theinfective agent. In turn, the zoospores germinate and form filaments that producenew zoospores, thus repeating the cycle.Geographic Distribution: Worldwide. Dermatophilosis has been confirmed inmany areas of Africa, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand, as well as in North andSouth America.Occurrence in Man: The first known cases were identified in 1961 in New York(USA), where four people became ill after handling a deer with dermatophilosis