Dermatitis Caused by Dermatophilus congolensis in a Zoo Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
Kyung-Yeon Eo1 and Oh-Deog Kwon2*
1Seoul
Zoo, Gwacheon 427-702, Korea;
2College
of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu
702-701, Korea
Abstract
Dermatophilosis caused by Dermatophilus
congolensis has a wide host range, including cattle, horses, camels, and bears. The present case was characterized by severe
exudative dermatitis with thick scab formation on the face and whole body of a
polar bear in Seoul Zoo, Korea. For diagnosis, fresh crusts from the face were
minced with several drops of normal saline, smeared on a glass slide, stained
with Diff-Quick® and
examined microscopically. Dermatophilus congolensis organisms were
observed as several parallel rows of gram-positive cocci
resembling railroad tracks.Recovery was dramatic with intramuscular procaine penicillin therapy.
Bathing in warm, salty water was effective to soften the skin lesions and remove
the debris.