Assessment of pathogenic yeast species in the oral cavity of dogs: Antifungal susceptibility and implications for human health

Companions' animals can present a risk for the transmission of opportunistic diseases to their owners, including those caused by yeasts of the Candida genus residing in their oral microbiota. This study aimed to isolate and identify yeasts from the oral cavity of dogs and assess their susceptibility to antifungals. Yeast species were identified using automated methods MALDI-TOF-MS and VITEK 2 from 50 dogs (aged 2–4 years, various breeds). Among the evaluated animals Candida albicans (37.5 %) and Candida parapsilosis (25 %) were predominant, followed by other species including C. haemuloni, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and Trichosporon asahii (12.5 % each). In this study, antifungal susceptibility testing revealed a general susceptibility with limited resistance. Although most antifungals exhibited good efficacy, some Candida strains demonstrated resistance to fluconazole (FLC), caspofungin (CAS), and amphotericin B (AMPB). These findings highlight the importance of conducting fungal cultures and antifungigram testing for the effective management of fungal infections in humans and animals. Therefore, vigilant monitoring and control measures are essential to reduce the transmission of opportunistic diseases from pets to humans.