Fungal flora in the trachea of birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Spain

Abstract

In the present work we study the prevalence of fungal flora in the tracheal epithelium of wild birds in a rehabilitation centre. Two hundred and sixteen birds representing 26 species from seven orders were sampled. Yeasts and moulds were isolated from 92 of the birds sampled (42.5%); in 24.5% only yeasts, in 12.5% only moulds and in 5.5% both moulds and yeasts together. The cattle egret was where the greatest number of animals with positive isolation was detected. The prevalence of yeasts shows significant differences between raptors and Ciconiiformes. Within the yeast flora, basically there were strains belonging to the genus Candida, mainly C. albicans. In the moulds, almost a half of them belonged to the genus Aspergillus.