Deadly drug-resistant fungus found in dogs ‘could jump to humans’

A deadly, drug-resistant fungus has been found in the ears of dogs in India and could make the leap to humans, a study has warned.

Candida auris is a type of yeast that was first reported in Japan in 2009.

Since then, it has spread around the world, causing persistent and severe infections and widespread outbreaks in hospitals.

Last year, the World Health Organisation named it one of four critical priority fungal pathogens.

A report from the United Nations agency warns the fungus can cause infections of the blood, heart, central nervous system, eyes, bones and internal organs – adding that it is ‘intrinsically resistant to most available antifungal medicines’.

The overall mortality for people who have serious infections is between 29% and 53%, it says.

Researchers published in the Journal of Fungi have now discovered and isolated the first live culture of the pathogen in the ear canals of stray dogs.

Skin and ear samples were taken from 87 dogs at a shelter in Delhi, a mixture of strays and household pets that had various infections and diseases.

Not all of their conditions were related to the fungus.

After the swabs were analysed, C. auris was found in the ears of four of the dogs with chronic skin infections.

Study author Dr Jianping Xu, a professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada, said: ‘Dogs are common pets. Even though C. auris was only found in stray dogs in this study, there are many stray dogs in many parts of the world.

‘These dogs could act as transmission vehicles for C. auris to reach other animals and humans.’

DNA analysis of the pathogen found some of the strains found in the dogs were similar to those found in humans.

When humans are infected, they can contaminate their environment by shedding skin scales – but the presence of the fungus in the ear canals of dogs rather than their exposed skin means the spread is contained.

Dr Xu, who also an investigator with the university’s Global Nexus School for Pandemic Prevention and Response, added: ‘We need to be vigilant in the surveillance of dogs, other domesticated pets and wild animals in regions where C. auris is endemic.

‘While C. auris spreads easily from human to human, the route of transmission among animals or from animals to humans is much less clear and further investigation is required.’

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