Isolation of Microsporum gypseum from the haircoat of health wild felids kept in captivity in Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology

Henri Donnarumma Levy Bentubo²  José Daniel Luzes Fedullo¹  Sandra Helena Ramiro Corrêa¹  Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira¹  Selene Dall' Acqua Coutinho² 

[1] ,Universidade Paulista Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária São Paulo SP

关键词: dermatophytes;    Microsporum gypseum;    dermatophytosis;    wild felids;    dermatófitos;    Microsporum gypseum;    dermatofitoses;    felídeos selvagens;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1517-83822006000200010

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Dermatophytes are fungi that cause superficial mycoses in animals and humans. While studies have shown that domestic cats (Felis catus) are often asymptomatic carriers of dermatophytes, and thus a significant source of infection, this aspect has not been studied in relation to their wild relatives. The present study was aimed at determining the presence of dermatophytes on the haircoat of healthy wild felids, kept in captivity at "Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo". Samples were taken from 130 adult animals of both sexes: 25 lions (Panthera leo), 12 tigers (Panthera tigris), 6 jaguars (Panthera onca), 4 leopards (Panthera pardus), 2 snow leopards (Panthera uncia), 2 pumas (Puma concolor), 2 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), 1 ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), 28 tiger cats (Leopardus tigrinus), 10 margays (Leopardus wiedii), 8 geoffroy's cats (Leopardus geoffroyi), 22 jaguarundis (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) and 8 pampas cats (Oncifelis colocolo). The samples were obtained by rubbing the haircoat of the animals with squares of sterile carpet, and then seeded onto Petri dishes containing Mycobiotic agar (Difco™). The plates were incubated at 25°C for 4 weeks. The isolates were subcultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol (100mg/L) and cultured on slides for posterior identification by their macro- and microscopic characteristics. Microsporum gypseum was isolated from two apparently healthy lionesses (1.6%), both kept in terrariums. The most prevalent contaminants were of the genera Penicillium (27.9%); Cladosporium (24.5%); Acremonium (12.1%); Scopulariopsis and Chrysosporium (9.8%); and Aspergillus (5.3%). The occurrence of dermatophytes in the haircoat of healthy wild felids, maintained in captivity, confirms their status as asymptomatic carriers and characterizes them as sources of infection for other animals and for humans.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
 All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License