Scientists Discover Drug-Resistant Fungus Candida Residing in Dogs’ Ears, Potentially Fatal to Humans.
The study published in the journal Fungi earlier this July reveals that Candida auris was found in the ears of four stray dogs in India. Researchers consider this particularly alarming since dogs are close companions to households and often kept as pets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, this fungus is a serious concern as it can render some antifungal treatments ineffective.
Medical experts estimate that one in three people infected with severe C. auris cases dies. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also declared this fungus as one of the “critical priority” pathogens for treatment worldwide.
Jianping Xu, a co-author of the study and a professor at McMaster University in Canada, stated that C. auris could appear in many other areas besides India. “Pet dogs may act as intermediaries for transmission, allowing C. auris to reach other animals and humans,” Dr. Xu said.
Various fungi found in dogs’ ears. (Photo: iStock).
Previously, scientists had detected C. auris in various locations, but this is the first time they have identified this fungus in dogs. DNA analysis revealed that the strains of the fungus in the four dogs shared genetic similarities with strains found in humans, suggesting a potential for transmission to humans.
Dr. Xu emphasized the need for increased surveillance of dogs, domesticated pets, and other wildlife in regions where C. auris is present.
Although this fungus is easily transmissible from person to person, the transmission route from animals to humans is not yet clear and requires further investigation. New York is one of the states with the highest number of C. auris cases in the U.S., with 379 confirmed cases in 2022.
Symptoms of C. auris infection vary depending on the affected body part. As the disease often arises in clinical settings among patients with other conditions, initial signs may be overlooked.
Characteristics of C. auris infection include ear infections, wound infections, and bloodstream infections. To treat the disease, doctors may prescribe echinocandin antifungal medications.
