Aspergilose em pingüins em cativeiro: diagnóstico, prevenção e controle em Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos

Abstract

Aspergillosis is a disease often associate with mortality of captive penguins and frequently acquired by the conidia inhalation of the air. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of this mycosis in captive penguins in a rehabilitation center of marine animals (CRAM), to search the presence of Aspergillus species on the ambient of captivity, and to introduce methods of a microbiology control in the indoor air, wishing a prevention of the disease. To this, post-mortem examinations was done in all penguins died, samples of the fungal air was collected by sedimentation in Agar Sabouraud dextrose added to cloramphenicol, “in vitro” tests was made to choose the more appropriated disinfectant to use on the local, and a routine of environmental disinfection was established. During the two years of the experiment 12 penguins died, and in five of them the cause was aspergillosis. In the 81 days of air samples collection, 33,3% were positive to Aspergillus spp. isolation, classified in seven distinct species totalizing 43 isolates, with A. fumigatus the predominant specie corresponding to 27,9%. The “in vitro” test of microdilution demonstrated the quaternary ammonia and chlorexidine efficacy against different Aspergillus species, and the “in loco” chlorexidine action reduced the fungal Aspergillus isolation on the indoor ambient of the CRAM. The study demonstrated the aspergillosis importance in captive penguins on CRAM, corresponding to elevated rates of mortality, and the presence of different pathogenic species Aspergillus fungal propagules on indoor environment of rehabilitation. This results obtained also permit to conclude that the environmental Aspergillus contamination on the CRAM could be partially controlled with the establishment of a disinfection routine with the chemic agent that had the better activity “in vitro”.