Dermatophytosis is a clinical condition caused by fungal infection of the skin in humans,
pets such as cats, and domesticated animals such as sheep and cattle. The term
"ringworm", commonly used to refer to such infections, is a misnomer, since the condition is caused by fungi of
several different species and not by parasitic worms. The fungi that cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer
of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive on skin that is warm and moist,
but may also survive directly on the outsides of hair shafts or in their
interiors. In pets, the fungus responsible for the disease survives in skin and
on the outer surface of hairs.
