RINGWORM EPIZOOTICS IN LABORATORY MICE AND RATS - EXPERIMENTAL AND ACCIDENTAL TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION

[摘要] Natural Trichophyton mentagrophytes infections occurred in 1-2% of experimental albino mice and in 20% of a colony of experimental rats used in this laboratory. Three laboratory workers contracted ringworm infections of the hands during mouse and rat experimental studies not concerned with mycology. Healthy albino mice were experimentally infected with organisms recovered from human and mouse infections. Experimental infections were produced in humans with organisms isolated from naturally infected humans and mice. Cultures of the hair of rats and mice immediately after arrival from breeding farms revealed that 18% of the animals harbored T. mentagrophytes. No gross evidence of infection was present in these groups of animals. Some prophylactic procedures for limiting the spread of infections among animals and humans are suggested.