The aim of this survey was to identify the fungal flora colonizing the cloaca of healthy reptiles kept in a pet shop to be sold as pets. The examined reptiles were belonging to the sub-orders Sauria (n=140) and Ophidia (n=17) or to the order Testudines (n=61). Following culture, the samples showed the presence of fungi in 75.2% of them. Fourteen genera of filamentous fungi, including 8 Aspergillus species, were identified as well as 6 genera of yeasts, including 13 species of Candida, 1 of Cryptococcus, and 1 of Pichia. A great number of the fungi isolated were known to be opportunistic agents of mycosis both in reptiles and humans. Therefore, the possible role of pet reptiles as carriers of opportunistic fungi into the human environment should be carefully evaluated.
Survey on the fungal flora of the cloaca of healthy pet reptiles
NARDONI, SIMONA;PAPINI, ROBERTO AMERIGO;MANCIANTI, FRANCESCA
2008-01-01
Abstract
The aim of this survey was to identify the fungal flora colonizing the cloaca of healthy reptiles kept in a pet shop to be sold as pets. The examined reptiles were belonging to the sub-orders Sauria (n=140) and Ophidia (n=17) or to the order Testudines (n=61). Following culture, the samples showed the presence of fungi in 75.2% of them. Fourteen genera of filamentous fungi, including 8 Aspergillus species, were identified as well as 6 genera of yeasts, including 13 species of Candida, 1 of Cryptococcus, and 1 of Pichia. A great number of the fungi isolated were known to be opportunistic agents of mycosis both in reptiles and humans. Therefore, the possible role of pet reptiles as carriers of opportunistic fungi into the human environment should be carefully evaluated.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
