Although tinea capitis and tinea circinata caused by Microsporum canis are fairly common diseases, they most often cause sporadic infections.1,2 In the summer of 1957, a sudden small epidemic involving at least 12 persons occurred in a small town, and all cases could be traced to one kitten.
The entire family, both parents and three children, who owned the kitten were infected, as well as eight other persons in the immediate neighborhood. One child who lived several blocks away was a frequent visitor at the home where the kitten lived and also became infected. Of the 12, Two were adults; 2 were adolescents, and 8 were children from 2 to 8 years of age. All 12 developed typical lesions of tinea circinata with oval erthyematosquamous patches with involuting centers and "active borders." Only two children developed tinea capitis, and these cases were of the noninflammatory type.