Isolation of dermatophytes in wild felids from screening centers

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 44, 1, 171-174 (2013) ISSN 1678-4405 Copyright © 2013, Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia www.sbmicrobiologia.org.br Short Communication Isolation of dermatophytes in wild felids from screening centers Ana Paula N. Albano1, Patrícia da Silva Nascente2, Alice T. Meirelles Leite3, Melissa O. Xavier4, Rosema Santin1, Antonella Souza Mattei1, Roberta M.P. Humberg5, Marco Antonio A. Coimbra3, Luiz Fernando Minello3, Mario C.A. Meireles1 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Veterinária, Departamento de Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. 2 Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. 3 Núcleo de Reabilitação da Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. 4 Laboratório de Micologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. 5 Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Submitted: August 10, 2011; Approved: July 2, 2012. Abstract The aim of this study was detect the presence of dermatophyte fungi on wild felids from screening centers. Samples were taken from 30 animals, assembled in two groups: “free-ranging” and “transitory captivity”. The dermatophytes (Trichophyton genus), isolated from two felids (6.6%), both of the group “free-ranging”. Key words: Trichophyton sp., dermatophytes, wild felids. 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 (Bentubo et al., 2006; Brotto et al., 2005). Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic fungi classified in three genera, Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, capable of invading keratinized tissues as nails, hair and cornea extract of humans and animals. These fungi are transmitted by contact with fur and dandruff infected or containing fungal particles, either from animals, environment or fomites (Sidrim et al., 2004). Young animals are most susceptible than adults and therefore asymptomatic adults can be sources of infection for the young and to humans in screening centers (Pereira and Meireles, 2001). In domestic cats Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the third most common agent causing dermatophytosis, after Microsporum canis and M. gypseum (Scott et al., 1996). In relation to wild felids, few studies describe the isolation and characterization of their dermatophytes. Thus, the prevalence of these fungi genera in wild cats is unknown. Given the considerable zoonotic potencial of dermatophytes, it is important to research and identify these fungi at resident and/or transitory microbiota of the fur of wild felids, to determine possible infection sources in unapparent carriers (Bentubo et al., 2006). Therefore, the aim of this study was detect the presence of dermatophyte fungi on the hair and ear canal of free-ranging and transitory confined wild felids, in order to determine the prevalence of dermatophytes on these animals and related it to captivity status. Samples were taken from 30 animals, felines, of both sexes, adults and young, admitted at Núcleo de Reabilitação de Fauna Silvestre - Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, RS (NURFS - CETAS, UFPel) or at Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres (CRAS - IMAP), Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Animal species include pumas (Puma concolor n = 11), geoffroy’s Send correspondence to A.P.N. Albano. Campus Universitário s/n Capão do Leão – Faculdade de Veterinária. 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. E-mail: . 172 cats (Leopardus geoffroyi n = 9), margays (Leopardus wiedii n = 4), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis n = 2), tiger cats (Leopardus tigrinus n = 2), jaguar (Panthera onça n = 1) and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi n = 1). They were divided in two groups: just captured (n = 23) and in transitory captivity (n = 7). Animals included in the study were submitted to chemical restraint, with the anesthetic protocol employed at each facility. Samples were collected by rubbing sterilized carpet squares on the felids’ skin on dorsum, nuchal and chest area. Material was collected from ear canal of all animals through sterile cotton sticks. These material were sent to laboratory in up to 24 hours, and then seeded by impression on plates containing Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloranfenicol and cycloheximide at 25 °C, with daily observation, until presented well defined pattern colony. To microscopical evaluation a colony’s fragment was stained with lactophenol cotton blue, in order to detect typical fruiting bodies of each species. The material was submitted to Albano et al. culture on potato dextrose agar, with the aim of encourage classic macroconidia growth and confirm the fungal species in the sample. Dermatophytes were isolated from two felids (6.6%), both of the group “just captured”. The only genus found was Trichophyton sp. The first one, a geoffroy’s cat, was isolated T. mentagrophytes. This animal had the same agent isolated from its ear canal. Colony was white to cream with reverse tan and granular texture, characterized microscopically by spiral hyphae, numerous microconidia and rare long macroconidia thin-walled, cigar-shaped with 2-5 celled (Figure 1). The second animal positive to dermatophyte isolation was a jaguar. In this case, a Trichophyton sp. was isolated from its hair. On Sabouraud dextrose agar, Trichophyton sp. has grown as a flat downy thallus with white edges and a cream-tinted central area. On potato dextrose agar the colony presented numerous microconidia and one single macroconid cigar-shaped with nine celled (Figure 2). Figure 1 - Trichophyton mentagrophytes colony: spiral hyphae, numerous microconidia and rare long macroconidia thin-walled, cigar-shaped with 2-5 celled. Figure 2 - Trichophyton sp.: colony presenting numerous microconidia and one single macroconid cigar-shaped with nine celled. Dermatophytes in wild felids In domestic animals M. canis, M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes are the main species involved in infections (Cavalcanti et al., 2003). Among these, M. canis assumes a notable relevance as the most isolated dermatophyte in cats (Gambale et al., 1993, Pier and Moriello, 1998, Zaror et al., 1986). M. canis can be isolated in up to 88% of apparently healthy cats (Zaror et al., 1986); this asymptomatic carrier state of the domestic cat is of utmost importance because animal host reservoirs represent an infection risk for the human population and a public health concern (Costa et al., 1994a, Zaror et al., 1986). Although epidemiology of dermatophytosis in wild animals have not been well documented in literature, (...truncated)