Epidemiological pattern of dermatophytosis in calves from Tarai region of Uttarakhand, India

Introduction

Dairy farming is an important sector providing a significant source of food and income worldwide. However, infectious disease poses a major threat to the health and productivity of dairy calves (Grout et al., 2020) [5] . Dermatophytosis is a fungal skin infection caused by keratinophilic fungi that affects the skin, hair, and hooves of animals. The infection appears as rough, circular patches on the skin that spread easily when animals come in contact with each other or share contaminated equipment. Cattle dermatophytosis is a major public and veterinary health concern, not only because of its high zoonotic impact, but also because of economic losses in cattle farms attributed to hide damage, loss of weight, decimated meat and milk, contagiousness among animals, treatment costs, and difficulty to implement control measures (Shams-Ghahfarokhi et al., 2009) [15] . Individuals working closely with animals such as farmers, veterinarians, and animal care professionals are at increased risk of infection, either through direct contact with animals or indirectly through contaminated tools and equipment (Lagowski et al., 2019) [8] . Ringworm is usually enzootic in cattle herds and is more prevalent in calves of less than one year of age (Chermette et al., 2008) [3] . This may be explained by stressors such as rapid growth, weaning, or parasite burden which weakens their immunity and skin health, as well as close confinement, dietary factors (deficiencies), and production systems (Papini et al., 2009) [11] . Asymptomatic adult animals appear to carry and spread the infection to young calves during the early stage of their life (Singh and Kushwaha, 2010) [16] . Importantly, Trichophyton verrucosum is the predominant zoophilic dermatophyte causative species of dermatophytosis in cattle which is characterized by rapidly spreading among susceptible animals and can occasionally spread to humans through direct contact with cattle or infected fomites, causing highly inflammatory skin and hair dermatophytosis (Monod et al., 2014) [9] .

In India, reports of ringworm in cattle come from many states but the influence of factors such as breed, age, and sex on disease susceptibility remains poorly understood. The role of seasons in disease occurrence is also not well understood. These knowledge gaps make it hard to give farmers specific advice on protecting their herds.

Materials and Methods

The prevalence study was undertaken to investigate the epidemiological pattern of dermatophytosis in calves in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Data were collected from the Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, as well as from various villages, gaushalas, dairy farms, and veterinary hospitals located in the surrounding Tarai areas. A total of 2007 calves were screened for dermatophytosis based on clinical examination. Calves showing characteristic dermatological lesions such as alopecia, scaling, and crust formation were considered positive and included for prevalence estimation. The occurrence of dermatophytosis was assessed with respect to factors such as gender, age, breed and seasonal variations. Data obtained were compiled systematically and used for estimation of overall and groupwise prevalence. The investigation was conducted during the period from January, 2025 to December, 2025.

Results and Discussion

Overall prevalence

In the present study, a total of 2007 calves below one year of age, irrespective of sex and breed, were clinically screened for dermatophytosis. Of these, 589 calves exhibited characteristic dermatological lesions suggestive of dermatophytosis and were considered clinically positive. The overall prevalence of dermatophytosis recorded during the study period in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand was 29.34% (589/2007) among the examined calves, as shown in Table 1. Area-wise analysis revealed variation in the prevalence of dermatophytosis, with the highest occurrence observed in Haldwani (39.7%) as compared to other areas.

The findings of the present study were in agreement with the earlier report of Kandpal (2024) [7] , who documented an overall prevalence of 29.08% (536/1843) of dermatophytosis in calves from the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Similar prevalence rates were also reported by Parmar et al. (2018) [12] , who observed an overall prevalence of 32.69% (17/52) among cattle in Gujarat. In contrast, Gafoorali (2011) [4] reported a comparatively lower prevalence of 17.38% (81/466) in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra, India, which may be attributed to regional differences in management practices, environmental conditions, and animal husbandry systems. The observed overall prevalence indicates that dermatophytosis is a commonly encountered dermatological condition among calves in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The endemic nature of the disease in this region may be influenced by a combination of environmental conditions, management practices and animal husbandry systems prevailing in the area. Factors such as close rearing of calves, frequent animal contact, and variations in hygiene and housing conditions may contribute to the persistence and spread of infection.

Sex-wise prevalence

In the present study, sex-wise analysis of dermatophytosis revealed a higher prevalence in female calves as compared to male calves. Out of 1231 female calves screened, 391 were found clinically positive for dermatophytosis, resulting in a prevalence rate of 31.76%. In contrast, among 776 male calves examined, 198 cases of dermatophytosis were recorded, with a comparatively lower prevalence rate of 25.51%, as shown in Table 2. These findings are in accordance with the observations of Rahman et al. (2018) [14] , who reported a higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in female cattle (3.52%) compared to males (3.25%) in Bangladesh. Likewise, Haggag et al.

(2017) [6] also documented a higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in female cattle (50%) than in males (22%) in Egypt. In contrast, Terefe et al. (2017) [18] reported a slightly higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in male cattle (46.75%) compared to females (42.67%). Similarly, Gafoorali (2011) [4] observed a higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in male cattle (22.09%) than in females (4.09%). Such variations in sex-wise prevalence reported across different studies may be attributed to differences in management practices, climatic conditions, sample size, and husbandry systems prevailing in different regions. The higher prevalence observed in female calves may be attributed to management-related factors rather than inherent sex predisposition. Female calves are generally retained for breeding purposes and reared for longer durations under farm conditions, which may lead to prolonged exposure to infective agents. Moreover, increased stocking density, close housing, and variations in hygiene and housing practices may further facilitate the spread of dermatophytosis among female calves. 3). These findings are in agreement with previous reports. Abd-Elmegeed et al. (2020) [1] documented a prevalence of 32.2% in calves under 6 months of age, whereas Tartor et al.

(2020) [17] observed a higher prevalence in the 4-6 months age group (59.97%) compared to calves aged 6-12 months (40.49%). Such comparisons indicate that younger calves are generally more susceptible to dermatophytosis across different regions. The higher prevalence observed in younger calves, particularly those aged 4-6 months, may be attributed to the relative immaturity of the immune system rendering them more susceptible to dermatophyte infection. Additionally, younger calves are often reared in close housing conditions, which can facilitate transmission. In contrast, older calves (10-12 months) may have developed partial immunity through prior exposure, resulting in comparatively lower prevalence. Management practices, housing, and environmental conditions likely also contribute to these agerelated differences in dermatophytosis prevalence.

Breed-wise prevalence

Breed-wise analysis showed considerable variation in the prevalence of dermatophytosis among different breeds of calves. The highest prevalence was recorded in HF crossbred calves, with 169 cases out of 396 animals screened, accounting for a prevalence rate of 42.67%. This was followed by Jersey crossbred calves, which exhibited a prevalence of 31.84% (64/201). Among indigenous breeds, Sahiwal calves showed a prevalence rate of 28.12% (198/704), while Badri calves exhibited a comparatively lower prevalence of 18.91% (14/74). Non-descript calves recorded a prevalence of 22.78% (144/632), as shown in Table 4. The higher prevalence observed in crossbred calves in the present investigation is in agreement with earlier reports. Rahbari (1986) [13] reported a higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in foreign breeds such as Holstein (36.6%) compared to native breeds (23%). Similarly, Tartor et al.

(2020) [17] observed that crossbred calves were more frequently affected by ringworm (84.11%) than purebred calves. Comparable findings were also documented by Abdel-Rady and Kotb (2008) [2] , who recorded a higher prevalence in Friesian cattle (28.94%) than in indigenous breeds (8.33%). Gafoorali (2011) [4] further reported greater susceptibility in non-descript and crossbred cattle as compared to well-adapted indigenous breeds.

The comparatively greater susceptibility of crossbred calves, particularly HF cross, may be attributed to their lower adaptability to tropical and subtropical climatic conditions, which predisposes them to dermatophyte infections. Crossbred animals are also more prone to environmental and management-related stress, which may adversely affect skin integrity and immune responses. In contrast, indigenous breeds such as Badri and Sahiwal are better adapted to local climatic conditions which may confer relative resistance to dermatophytosis. Additionally, variations in housing systems, stocking density, hygiene, and overall management practices among different breeds may influence the transmission dynamics of dermatophytosis. Crossbred calves are often reared under intensive or semi-intensive management systems involving closer animal contact, thereby facilitating the spread of infection.

Season-wise prevalence

Season-wise analysis revealed marked variation in the prevalence of dermatophytosis among calves across different seasons. The highest prevalence was recorded during the winter season, where 398 cases were observed out of 781 calves screened, resulting in a prevalence rate of 50.96%. This was followed by the rainy season with 112 cases among 598 calves examined, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 18.72%. The lowest prevalence was noted during the summer season, where only 79 cases were detected out of 628 calves screened, accounting for a prevalence rate of 12.57%, as presented in Table 5. The seasonal pattern observed in the present investigation is in close agreement with the findings of Kandpal (2024) [7] , who reported the highest prevalence of dermatophytosis in calves during the winter season (52.31%) in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Similar seasonal trends have also been reported by Rahbari (1986) [13] , who documented that dermatophytosis occurred throughout the year but was more prevalent during winter months (35.6%). Nooruddin and Singh (1987) [10] likewise observed a higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in cattle during the winter season. The markedly higher prevalence during winter may be attributed to favourable environmental conditions such as lower ambient temperatures, increased humidity, and reduced exposure to sunlight which promote the survival and transmission of dermatophytes. Furthermore, animals are often housed in closer confinement during colder months leading to increased animal-to-animal contact and facilitating the spread of infection. In contrast, higher temperatures and increased ultraviolet radiation during summer months are known to inhibit fungal growth, which may explain the comparatively lower prevalence observed during this period.

Conclusion

Dermatophytosis is a prevalent fungal infection among calves in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, with an overall prevalence of 29.34%. Sex-wise analysis revealed higher susceptibility in female calves (31.76%) compared to males (25.51%), likely due to management practices and longer retention of females for breeding. Age-wise prevalence indicated that younger calves, particularly those aged 4-6 months, were most affected (39.71%), reflecting the influence of immature immunity and close housing conditions. Breed-wise analysis showed crossbred calves, especially HF cross (42.67%), to be more susceptible than indigenous breeds, highlighting the role of adaptability to local climatic and management conditions. Season-wise assessment demonstrated the highest prevalence during winter (50.96%), followed by the rainy (18.72%) and summer (12.57%) seasons, emphasizing the impact of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and animal housing on fungal transmission. These findings underscore the significance of age, sex, breed and seasonal factors in the epidemiology of dermatophytosis in calves.

Effective control strategies should focus on improving housing, hygiene and management practices, particularly during high-risk seasons and among vulnerable groups. Routine clinical screening, timely intervention, and targeted preventive measures are recommended to reduce the burden of dermatophytosis in calf populations.

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