Dermatophilosis among wild raccoons in New York State.

Dermatophilus congolensis was established as the cause of dermatitis in 8 raccoons, as determined from examination of carcasses and untreated hides. Encrusted lesions were restricted to or more pronounced in the areas around the eyes, along the snout, and on the skin in the tarsal and carpal regions. The causative agent was demonstrated through direct examination of stained paraffin sections, isolation in pure culture, or examination of stained smears from lesions induced experimentally in rabbits with material from the affected raccoons.