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Omar S, Jalaludin FA, Yee JM, Kamarudin Z, Jayaseelan K, Khlubi ANM, Madaki YL, Hassan H, Ramli MN, Topani R, Che-Amat A. Mycological isolation from animal enclosures and environments in National Wildlife Rescue Centre and National Zoo, Malaysia. J Vet Med Sci 2020; 82:1236-1242. [PMID: 32641623 PMCID: PMC7468073 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.20-0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
It is important to provide a baseline of fungal composition in the captive wildlife
environment to better understand their role in overall wildlife health. The objectives
were to identify species of fungi existing within wildlife animal enclosures and their
environment at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC) and the National Zoo, Malaysia
and to describe their medical and veterinary importance. Samples of air, wall or floor
swab, enrichment swab and soil were taken from the animal enclosures, exercise yard and
enrichments at NWRC and National Zoo respectively. All samples including those pre-treated
samples were plated onto Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA). Numerous fungi were grown on all
sampling SDA plates regardless by either single or multiple growth. Samples of air in both
NWRC and National Zoo had the highest growth of Penicillium spp. with a
prevalence of 31.2% and 83.7% respectively. Samples of swab from the wall, floor and
enrichments were predominantly by Candida spp. (42.6%) in NWRC and
Penicillium spp. (41.6%) in the National Zoo. Prevalence of multiple
fungi isolated from the soil samples in NWRC were 57.9% and yeast species was the most
common in National Zoo with a prevalence of 88.9%. Overall, 29 and 8 isolates were found
in both samples from the NWRC and National Zoo with a predominant species of potential
zoonotic fungi have been identified in both premises. The expected fungus
Aspergillus spp. was not isolated in all samples in NWRC. Prevalent
fungal species found in this study are known to cause disease in animals and humans as
primary pathogen and also as opportunistic pathogens that may also cause infection. Thus,
health safety precautions should be considered particularly in dealing with conservation
of endangered wildlife species, along with personnel and public involvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharina Omar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Fathiah Aqilah Jalaludin
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jacqueline Meikwei Yee
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zubaidah Kamarudin
- National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC), Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN), 35600 Sungkai, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Kavitha Jayaseelan
- Zoo Negara (National Zoo), Hulu Kelang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Aina Nazurah Mohd Khlubi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yusuf Lekko Madaki
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasdi Hassan
- National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC), Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN), 35600 Sungkai, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Mat Naim Ramli
- Zoo Negara (National Zoo), Hulu Kelang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rahmat Topani
- Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Azlan Che-Amat
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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