EN
Investigations were carried out on 32 foxes aged approximately 2 months. The comparative studies on an experimental infection with Microsporum canis and Trichophyton spp revealed that in foxes infected with M. canis distinctive signs of the disease occurred at about 3 weeks after inoculation of the fungus. In silver foxes they were better expressed and lasted for 2—3 months and cleared after 3—4 months from infection. In polar foxes ringworm was of a lesser course: Clinical signs cleared within 2 months. In foxes infected with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulosum the first clinical signs appeared as early as after 7 days, progressed to their maxima after 2—3 weeks and cleared at approximately 6 weeks. The administration of a vaccine Bovitrichovac II (inactivated T. verrucosum strain) proved to be ineffective in case of M. canis infection; in contrast it was effective in the treatment of foxes infected with T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum. Four different vaccines were used for prophylactic purposes: a) Bovitrichovac II, b) an inactivated combined vaccine containing T. verrucosum and T. mentagrophytes strains, c) two variants of inactivated vaccines comprising M. canis strains. Bovitrichovac II and the combined vaccine protected foxes from T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum infection but not from M. canis. In contrast, specific vaccines appeared to be of good immunogenicity as they protected the animals from infection with M. canis. The skin test performed on foxes vaccinated for prophylactic purpose with M. canis vaccines (both variants) showed a positive response after the administration of allergen made of a Trichophyton mentagrophytes strain. The results point to the presence of some common antigenic fractions among Microsporum and Trichophyton strains that are active and stimulate allergic reactions. However, they do not seem to play any role in the cross-immunity. The findings indicate that there are some prospects for elaborating specific immunoprophylaxis against M. canis infection of cats and dogs.