Fungal microbiota of the hair coat of laboratory animals

Abstract

With the refining of handling techniques for laboratory animals kept in animal rooms in which different work rules are followed,it is fundamental to evaluate the microbiota of the raising environment, as well as of the animals in this environment. It isknown that several saprobe fungi are isolated from hair and skin of experimental animals, being potentially pathogenic inspecific situations. The aim of this research was to determine the fungal microbiota on the coats of laboratory animals fromthe Central Animal Room of the University of Ceará. Samples of hair and skin of 355 healthy animals (150 rats, 150 mice, 40guinea pigs and 15 hamsters) were analyzed. Samples were collected by vigorously brushing the back of the animals andthen cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose and Mycosel agar. Species identification was based on the analysis of the macroscopicappearance of colonies and microscopy features of the fungi. Development of fungi was observed in 63.95% of the animals.The most frequent fungi were: Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (34.7%), Aspergillus sp. (30%) and Penicillium sp. (16.7%). Inconclusion, fungal microbiota on coat of these animals is diversified, and saprobe fungi occurs in a great number of experimentalanimals.