Conjunctival fungal flora in horses, cattle, dogs, and cats.
Abstract: Conjunctival swab specimens were obtained from both eyes of 43 horses, 25 cows, 50 dogs, and 25 cats without keratitis or other ophthalmologic problems. Fungi were isolated from 95% of the horses, 100% of the cows, 22% of the dogs, and 40% of the cats. Aspergillus spp were isolated from 56% of the horses, 12% of the cows, 8% of the cats, and none of the dogs. Penicillium spp and Cladosporium spp were isolated ubiquitously. Collectively, 28 species from 209 isolants were identified.
Publication Date: 1984-05-15 PubMed ID: 6539761
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the presence of fungal species in the eye swabs of different animals, finding wide variance in the types and prevalence of fungi across animal types.
Overview of the Study
- The research was a comparative study focusing on the fungal flora present in conjunctival swab specimens from relatively healthy horses, cows, dogs, and cats.
- The specimens were taken from both the eyes of animals that did not exhibit any signs of keratitis or other ophthalmologic problems.
- A total of 43 horses, 25 cows, 50 dogs, and 25 cats were studied.
Findings of the Study
- A majority of animals had some form of fungi present. Specifically, 95% of horses, 100% of cows, 22% of dogs, and 40% of cats had some identifiable fungal presence.
- Aspergillus species were found to be isolated from 56% of horses, 12% of cows, and 8% of cats. No Aspergillus species were found in dogs.
- Penicillium and Cladosporium species were found in all types of animals despite the variance.
- In total, the investigators could identify 28 different species from the 209 isolants that they studied.
Implications of the Study
- The research indicates the prevalence of fungal flora in the eye regions of these kinds of animals, which may potentially have implications for understanding eye health and diseases among these animals.
- Particularly, the high prevalence of Aspergillus species in horses and cows prompts further investigation about how these animal species respond to this and what potential health risks these fungi might pose.
- The ubiquity of Penicillium and Cladosporium species across all species in the study also calls for further investigation into these fungal species’ roles and potential impacts on animal health.
Cite This Article
APA
Samuelson DA, Andresen TL, Gwin RM.
(1984).
Conjunctival fungal flora in horses, cattle, dogs, and cats.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 184(10), 1240-1242.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cat Diseases / microbiology
- Cats / microbiology
- Cattle / microbiology
- Cattle Diseases / microbiology
- Conjunctiva / microbiology
- Dog Diseases / microbiology
- Dogs / microbiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses / microbiology
- Keratoconjunctivitis / microbiology
- Keratoconjunctivitis / veterinary
- Mitosporic Fungi / isolation & purification
- Mycoses / microbiology
- Mycoses / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Mo PM, Picard J, Gummow B. The conjunctival fungal microflora of horses in a North Queensland tropical environment and their in vitro susceptibilities to antifungal agents.. Vet Res Commun 2023 Sep;47(3):1641-1651.
- Walsh ML, Meason-Smith C, Arnold C, Suchodolski JS, Scott EM. Evaluation of the ocular surface mycobiota in clinically normal horses.. PLoS One 2021;16(2):e0246537.
- Tahoun A, Elnafarawy HK, Elmahallawy EK, Abdelhady A, Rizk AM, El-Sharkawy H, Youssef MA, El-Khodery S, Ibrahim HMM. Epidemiological and Molecular Investigation of Ocular Fungal Infection in Equine from Egypt.. Vet Sci 2020 Sep 8;7(3).
- Darden JE, Scott EM, Arnold C, Scallan EM, Simon BT, Suchodolski JS. Evaluation of the bacterial ocular surface microbiome in clinically normal cats before and after treatment with topical erythromycin.. PLoS One 2019;14(10):e0223859.
- Ysquierdo CA, Olafson PU, Thomas DB. Fungi Isolated From House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) on Penned Cattle in South Texas.. J Med Entomol 2017 May 1;54(3):705-711.
- Bonelli F, Barsotti G, Attili AR, Mugnaini L, Cuteri V, Preziuso S, Corazza M, Preziuso G, Sgorbini M. Conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora in clinically normal sheep.. Vet Rec Open 2014;1(1):e000017.
- de Sousa ME, Araújo MA, Mota RA, Porto WJ, Souza AK, Dos Santos JL, da Silva PP. Fungal microbiota from ocular conjuctiva of clinically healthy horses belonging to the military police cavalry of alagoas.. Braz J Microbiol 2011 Jul;42(3):1151-5.
- Reed Z, Thomasy SM, Good KL, Maggs DJ, Magdesian KG, Pusterla N, Hollingsworth SR. Equine keratomycoses in California from 1987 to 2010 (47 cases).. Equine Vet J 2013 May;45(3):361-6.
- Barsotti G, Sgorbini M, Nardoni S, Corazza M, Mancianti F. Occurrence of fungi from conjunctiva of healthy horses in Tuscany, Italy.. Vet Res Commun 2006 Nov;30(8):903-6.
- Wilhelmus KR, Jones DB. Curvularia keratitis.. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 2001;99:111-30; discussion 130-2.
- Dupont C, Carrier M, Higgins R. Bacterial and fungal flora in healthy eyes of birds of prey.. Can Vet J 1994 Nov;35(11):699-701.
- Aho R, Tala M, Kivalo M. Mycotic keratitis in a horse caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. The first reported case in Finland.. Acta Vet Scand 1991;32(3):373-6.
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