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Bentubo, H.D.L.; Fedullo, J.D.L.; Correa, S.H.R.; Teixeira, R.H.F.; Coutinho, S.D.A.
Isolation of _Microsporum gypseum_ from the haircoat of health wild felids kept in captivity in Brazil
2006  Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (37): 148-152

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 "Funda‡Æo Parque Zool¢gico de SÆo 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 (DifcoT). The plates were incubated at 25øC 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.

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