Wool fungus and ringworm. Two variants of a nasty little fungi that cause some ugly spots on the skin of sheep, goats and cattle. If left untreated, it can cause severe skin lesions and is highly contagious even to humans. If you go to a show and active fungus is found on your animal, you will be asked to leave immediately. Three things you need to understand are: how animals get it, how to prevent it, and how to treat it.
How Animals Get Wool Fungus/Ringworm
Wool fungus and ringworm is caused by Trichophyton. The spores of this fungus attack the animal's skin through small cuts or nicks. These spores can survive several years in the environment. This includes in pens, in trailers, on equipment and on tack. It can take up to 4 weeks before any lesions (signs of fungus infection) appear.
Shearing of wool removes a sheep's natural layers of protection, wool and its lanolin, and allows the spores to get to the skin. It can also hide in wool as well. The spores can be transmitted from sheep to sheep contact or by sheep picking it up from the environment where it is present.
Ringworm in goats and cattle starts the same with cuts or scratches on the skin allowing the fungus in. Goats and cattle tend to get minor cuts and scratches by rubbing on things in the environment. It can also be transferred easily between animals since they do not have the wool and lanolin that sheep have.
How to Prevent Wool Fungus/Ringworm
The best way is to avoid animals that have fungus and the environments they are in. If you know a farm, barn or other location is the home to animals infected with fungus, do not take your animals there and if you go, be sure to clean and disinfect yourself , your clothes or any items that came in contact with the animals.
If you have gone to a show or other location and are concerned you may pick up the fungus, then its best to wash and disinfect animals before you leave. There are several fungus washes available to buy for your livestock. You also need to disinfect tack and equipment. I like to spray down items with a chlorohexadine mixture to disinfect from fungus and other possible infectious diseases. If everything is washed and disinfected before being loaded into the trailer, the trailer should remain fungus free as well, but it is not a bad idea to regularly wash out a trailer and disinfect it as well.
How to Treat Fungus
Treating fungus can be a little difficult. Treating the active lesions to prevent it from spreading is the priority. There are lots of ideas and alternative ways on how to treat these lesion from painting them, to spraying on certain lubricants. None of these are approved for use on animals. DO NOT DO THIS to your animals.
Since most ringworm on goats and cattle will usually heal over time, we need to prevent the spread to other animals. First, keep them away from other animals to prevent spread of the fungus. Then clean animals with a fungus wash and disinfect all tack and equipment. Finally, use a fungicide to treat the lesions. This will help prevent it from spreading.
Wool fungus is a little trickier. There is an extra step of clipping wool around the lesions to allow access to the skin to treat the fungus. Clip as small an area as possible and then disinfect those blades and clippers before using on another sheep. Now do the same as with a goat or calf. Wash the animal, treat the lesions and disinfect tack and equipment.
If the wool fungus and ringworm does not seem to be getting better, or it seems to be spreading, call your vet. (The one you have the VCPR with, right?!)
Caution
Wool fungus and ringworm are zoonotic, which means they can spread to people. If you are treating animals with wool fungus and ringworm you need to prevent yourself from getting it. Wear protective gloves while treating animals or disinfecting things. Wash your hands after handling these animals. And finally, wash your clothes after handling infected animals.
If you find a spot of ringworm on your skin, don't panic, but do call your doctor and get their recommendation on treating it.
Wool fungus and ringworm can be a tough thing to deal with. It may mean you get to miss a show or two. It definitely means you are going to be cleaning, disinfecting, and treating your animals. Remember, prevention is better than the cure.
Scott Stinnett
Area Extension Agent
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension
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