The present survey was undertaken to determine the mycoflora of broiler houses. Attempts were made to isolate and identify fungi in the dust, feed, litter and water from 21 broiler houses. A total of 166 isolates of fungi was identified as yeast spp. (44%), Aspergillus spp. (30.7%), Verticillium spp. (7.2%), Penicillium spp. (3.6%), Paecilomyces spp. (3.6%), Scopulariopsis spp. (3.0%), Cephalosporium spp. (3.0%), Chrysosporium spp. (2.4%), Cladosporium spp. (1.8%) and Absidia spp. (0.6%).

Conjunctival swab specimens from healthy pigs were cultured to determine normal microbial population. Four commercial swine operations were selected for study. Pigs of 4 age groups were tested: nursing pigs, nursery pigs, feeder pigs, and sows. Swab specimens were taken from the conjunctival sac of each pig. Bacterial, fungal, and mycoplasmal growth was determined separately. Chlamydia sp was detected by use of an ELISA. Bacteria were recovered from 98% of specimens evaluated. alpha-Streptococcus sp (89%) was the most commonly recovered organism, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (39%) and Staphylococcus sp (39%). Mycoplasma sp was not detected in any of the specimens. Chlamydia sp was identified in 28% of all specimens evaluated. These results are similar to reports of normal conjunctival flora in other domestic animals.

Swab specimens for fungal isolation were collected from the healthy conjunctival sacs of 3 species of captive camelids (Lama glama, L guanicoe, L pacos) and llama-guanaco hybrids. Fungi were collected from over half the animals in winter (53%) and summer (56%). Fungal species of 10 genera were isolated. In both seasons, Aspergillus was the most commonly isolated genus; at least 9 species of Aspergillus were found. The fungal organisms isolated were similar to those found in healthy eyes of other domestic animals and may represent a random seeding from the environment where they are ubiquitous.

Over periods of 22 and 14 months, IgG antibody concentrations in serum samples obtained monthly from 14 mares and 19 foals, respectively, were measured by use of ELISA against antigens of the following environmental microbes: Aspergillus umbrosus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Rhodotorula glutinis, Absidia corymbifera, Aspergillus fumigatus, Humicola grisea, Micropolyspora faeni, and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. The mares and foals were on pasture from early June until early October, then were stabled during the winter season until the following June. In the mares, increased antibody concentrations against most microbes were observed typically in midwinter and late spring when the horses were stabled; antibody concentrations against R glutinis, however, peaked in August. Concentrations differed between the summer and winter seasons and, in most instances, between 2 consecutive years and correlated with amounts of rainfall during the previous harvest season. In the foals, circulating passively acquired antibodies disappeared within 3 to 4 months after birth. During the first year of life, substantially increased autogenous antibody concentrations were observed only against R glutinis. Antibody concentrations against the other microbes increased gradually toward the end of the indoor season. In a group of foals transferred indoors in autumn, 6 weeks later than the other foals, antibody concentrations were lower when measured in December. Results supported the view that, to minimize exposure to microbial spores during the winter season, horses should be kept outdoors as much as possible and attention should be focused on improving the ventilation in stables and the quality of feeds and beddings.

The effect of fungi on the growth of body organs in mice was investigated. Single, intraperitoneal injections of yeasts (Cryptococcus albidus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces octosporus) or molds (Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor haemalis) induced an increase in the mass of seminal vesicles and coagulating glands independent of whole body weight changes in mice.

The fungal flora of the hair and underlying skin from 2 sites was examined qualitatively in 20 horses free of skin or ocular disease. Fungi were isolated from both the hair and the underlying skin of all 20 horses. Twenty-two genera regarded commonly as saprophytes were identified and an additional 2 fungi resembled the perfect state of the cutaneous pathogenic genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Cladosporium spp, Penicillium spp, and Rhizopus spp were the most frequently isolated saprophytes. In general, similar fungi were isolated from the hair and underlying skin, and differences were not noted in isolates from the saddle and rump regions.

Microorganisms from normal eyes of hospitalized and stabled horses were identified, and the frequency of isolation was compared between the 2 groups. Using standard techniques, swab specimens from both eyes of 22 hospitalized horses and both eyes of 18 stabled horses were cultured for aerobic bacteria and fungi. Ninety-six aerobic bacteria and 57 fungi were isolated. The predominant bacterial isolates were gram-positive organisms, most of which belonged to the genera Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptomyces. Gram-negative organisms comprised less than one-fourth of the bacterial isolates, with the genera Neisseria, Moraxella, and Acinetobacter being the most commonly isolated. Environmental fungi Cladosporium and Alternaria accounted for half of all fungal isolates. In only 5 horses were fungi isolated without accompanying isolation of bacteria. The frequency of isolation of fungi was higher (P less than 0.01) in stabled horses. For bacteria, the frequency of isolation was higher (P less than 0.08) in male horses. Results of susceptibility testing were recorded as the percentage of all isolates were highly susceptible to a given antimicrobic drug. Bacterial isolates were highly susceptible (greater than or equal to 90%) to neomycin, polymixin B, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. Overall, filamentous fungi had highest susceptibility to natamycin (97%). Miconazole was highly efficacious (100% susceptibility) against Fusarium and Aspergillus.

A corn culture of Fusarium roseum was added to a standard corn-soybean swine gestation ration. Low, middle, and high dosage mixed feeds contained 7, 38, and 64 mg of zearalenone/kg of feed (7, 38, and 64 ppm) and 0.5, 2.5, and 4.5 mg of deoxynivalenol/kg, respectively. Control feed was the standard ration without added F roseum corn culture. Mature gilts were bred by natural service and fed control or F roseum molded feed from 3 to 34 days after breeding. The main effect of the molded feed was an inhibition of fetal development, with decreased numbers of fetuses present in treated animals at slaughter (38 to 43 days after breeding). Normal litters were present in 7 of 8 control animals, in 2 of 4 gilts given the low-dosage feed, in 1 of 4 gilts given the medium dosage, and in 0 of 4 given the high-dosage feed. Corpora lutea were maintained in all treated animals, as evidenced by serum progesterone concentrations. Serum estradiol concentrations were decreased in gilts in the middle- and high-dosage groups. The genital system of the gilts fed low- and middle-dosage feeds had a gross and microscopic appearance similar to that of the pregnant controls and reflected prolonged progesterone stimulation. Morphologic changes in the genital system of the high-dosage group were intermediate between changes induced by progesterone and those induced by estrogen. Clinical signs of hyperestrogenism and partial feed refusal were noticed in only some of the high-dosage group animals.