Abstract

FREITAS, C.E.S. et al. Aerobic fungi in the large intestine of lambs and ewes raised on tropical pastures. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2012, vol.64, n.1, pp. 225-227. ISSN 0102-0935.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352012000100033.

Fungi populations were evaluated in large intestine from sheep raised in the North of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The samples were from 39 Santa Inês crossbred ewes and 30 lambs raised on Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania), both supplemented with mineral mixtures. The clinical specimens were directly collected from rectal ampoule with sterile swabs. The development of fungal mycelium was observed in all lamb samples and positive cultures were observed in 34 ewe specimens (87.2%). After microculture of 40 colonies from lambs, 34 isolates of the genus Aspergillus, three of Paecilomyces spp., one Acremonium sp., and one Trichoderma sp. were identified. Out of the 39 isolates from ewes, 15 Paecilomyces spp., 11 Aspergillus spp., 11 Malbranchea spp., and one Onychocola sp. were identified. The results showed the predominance of the genus Aspergillus in the lambs, while the genus Paecilomyces, Malbranchea, and Aspergillus were predominant, in ewes.

Keywords : sheep; digestive tract; mycelial fungi; North of Minas Gerais.