An outbreak of Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii dermatophytosis at a veterinary school associated with an infected horse.

The study investigates an outbreak of a skin inflammation disease caused by Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii in a veterinary school in Bern, Switzerland. The source of the infection was traced to an infected horse and spread to 20 people including students, staff, and stablemen, some of whom had not had direct contact with the horse.

Overview of the Research

• The research was conducted after an outbreak of inflammatory skin disease caused by the Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii fungus. This condition primarily affected an infected horse but later involved the owner, students, staff, and stablemen at a veterinary school in Bern, Switzerland.
• Apart from causing an inflammatory condition on the body, the fungus also resulted in facial dermatitis amongst the affected persons.
• Interestingly, the transmission of the fungus was not limited to those who came into direct contact with the infected horse. One person who got infected was the partner of a patient. Three people who had not interacted with the horse directly also contracted the condition.

Results of the Research

• Both the observable characteristics and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence of the fungus isolated from the infected horse and patients were a perfect match. This finding alleviated any doubts about whether the horse was the original source of the fungus.
• While direct human-to-human transmission remains a possibility, it was strongly suggested that fomites were the transmission agent for the three persons who had not been in direct contact with the infected horse.

Comparative Analysis and Conclusions

• The researchers made a comparative analysis of this case with other historical records. These records revealed that during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this fungus was prevalent, with horses often transmitting it to humans who had contact with them, such as stablemen, coachmen, carters, and artillery soldiers.
• The modern rarity of similar outbreaks could be tied to drastic changes in horse husbandry and civilization progression from the nineteenth century to the present day in Europe.
• It was hypothesized that the horse’s inadequate immune response and the high number of people interacting with it at the equine clinic contributed significantly to the exceptional nature of this case.