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Fungal Flora in Asymptomatic Pet Guinea Pigs and Rabbits
Lucia Kottferová1, Ladislav Molnár1, Eva Čonková2
1Clinic of Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia.
Abstract:
Fungal skin diseases are well-recognized diseases with public health implications. The study provides a comprehensive overview and aims to determine the rate of positive fungal cultures to identify the most common fungal species in guinea pigs and rabbits and to determine the rate of asymptomatic carriers in healthy pet animals. This knowledge is essential for understanding disease transmission dynamics and epidemiological situation problems. A total of 167 animals (64 rabbits and 103 guinea pigs) were investigated in this study. The fungi of the genus Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus were the most common in the examined animals, and they were isolated from 162 (97%) of the animals enrolled. No fungal growth was observed in 5 animals. In 15 cases (8.98%), we found pathogenic zoonotic dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes), which caused several health problems in two humans in contact with affected animals. This study presents the prevalence of fungal flora in pet guinea pigs and rabbits in Slovakia.
Insights
Fungal infections are common in pet rabbits and guinea pigs, with 97% of animals carrying fungi. Pathogenic dermatophytes were found in nearly 9% of pets, posing a zoonotic risk to humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Mycology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Fungal skin diseases in pets pose public health risks.
- Understanding fungal prevalence in guinea pigs and rabbits is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of fungal species in pet rabbits and guinea pigs.
- To identify common fungal genera and assess the rate of asymptomatic carriers.
- To investigate the presence of zoonotic dermatophytes and their public health implications.
Main Methods:
- Fungal cultures were performed on 167 pet animals (64 rabbits, 103 guinea pigs) in Slovakia.
- Identification of fungal species was based on morphological and cultural characteristics.
- Prevalence of pathogenic zoonotic dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, was specifically assessed.
Main Results:
- Fungi were isolated from 97% of the examined animals.
- The most common fungal genera identified were Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus.
- Pathogenic zoonotic dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) were detected in 8.98% of animals, with two human cases linked to infected pets.
Conclusions:
- Pet rabbits and guinea pigs harbor a high prevalence of diverse fungal species.
- A significant proportion of these animals carry zoonotic dermatophytes, highlighting potential transmission risks to humans.
- This study underscores the importance of mycological surveillance in pet populations for public health protection.
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