Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

PATHOGENIC FUNGI IN BIRD EXCRETA: A FORGOTTEN PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

October 31, 2014

Dear editor,

The recent report on "fungi in bird excreta" is very interesting1. Mendes JF, Albano AP, Coimbra MA, Ferreira GF, Gonçalves CL, Nascente P da S, et al. Fungi isolated from the excreta of wild birds in screening centers in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2014;56:525-8.. MENDES et al. found many contaminated fungi in the samples, and mentioned for the requirement for public health concern preventive measures, such as "proper cleaning of cages1. Mendes JF, Albano AP, Coimbra MA, Ferreira GF, Gonçalves CL, Nascente P da S, et al. Fungi isolated from the excreta of wild birds in screening centers in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2014;56:525-8.". In fact, the concern of fungi contamination in bird excreta should be raised. It is usually forgotten. In uncaged bird, the contamination might be more problematic since it is not possible to effectively clean. In our experience, the examination of bird excreta from public yard, showed that up to 9.09% of the samples were contaminated with pathogenic fungi. To set a system to control bird excreta and surveillance of pathogen contamination in excreta should be an important topic for any community.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Mendes JF, Albano AP, Coimbra MA, Ferreira GF, Gonçalves CL, Nascente P da S, et al. Fungi isolated from the excreta of wild birds in screening centers in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2014;56:525-8.
  • 2
    Soogarun S, Wiwanitkit V, Palasuwan A, Pradniwat P, Suwansaksri J, Lertlum T, et al. Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bird excreta. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2006;37:768-70.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sep-Oct 2015
Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 05403-000 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil, Tel. +55 11 3061-7005 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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