Opportunistic fungi in Detroit's rats and opossum

Four Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and one opossum (Didelphis virginiana) were surveyed for the presence of fungi. Eighteen different fungi were isolated from rat samples and six from the opossum, including Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Hair and skin scrapings from laboratory raised Norway rats, bedding and air from the room yielded only Penicillium sp.