Studies on the prevalence of fungi in enteric and pneumonic cases of sheep population in Gajapati District, Odisha state

Introduction

Fungal infections are common contagious diseases caused by fungi. Some species live in the environment and act as parasites rarely. In live animals the dermatophytes are inhabitant of the superficial tissues like hair, nails, subcutaneous tissues and other sites and are reported more in immune compromised animals. Dermatophytosis caused mostly by three genera, namely Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Most fungi are available in the soil and in living tissues. (Spickler et al. 2013) [22] . Fungal infections are more relatively in healthy and immune competent animals because of their presence in the environment. (Kohler et al. 2015; Gnat et al. (2020) [15,13] . The prevalence of fungal dermatophytosis are low and recurrent infections caused by true and opportunistic pathogens in animals and human beings. Ringworm infections of animals and human beings are more in animals and human beings in hot and humid climates. (Radostits et al. 2000) [17] . The prevalence of goat and sheep dermatophytes were 8.9 and 7.0 % in Nigeria respectively (Nweze 2011) [16] , and it was 6.4 and 6.1% in West Bengal respectively (Biswas et al. 2015). The prevalence of Tricophyton mentagrophytes and Tricophyton verrucosum were 25.5 and 23.8% respectively in goat and sheep population in Nigeria (Dalis et al. 2023) [7] . Emenuga and Oyeka (2013) [8] reported 19.64% T. verrucosum, 20.54% of T. mentagrophytes 5.8% M. gypseum in sheep and goat in Nigeria. CFSPH (2004-2013) reported the prevalence of M.audouinii, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans and E. floccosum in all livestock species including goats and pets. Studies on the prevalence of fungal infections in various animals both systemic and cutaneous origins were carried out extensively by many authors. In this study an attempt was made to study the prevailing fungal infections in sheep population affected with enteritis and pneumonia in an organized livestock farm complex.

Materials and Methods

Location: The present study was carried out in an organized livestock farm in Sitapur village in Gajapati district of Odisha state.

Clinical examination of the animals

A total number of 22 sheep, out of 42, showed the clinical signs for enteritis and pneumonia and these animals were screened for these fungi prevalence. All these animals were kept in semi-intensive system of rearing and vaccinated for foot and mouth disease, hemorrhagic septicemia, black quarter and dewormed regularly.

Laboratory examination for fungal infections

Nasal and enteric samples were collected from the clinically positive sheep and subjected for sabouraud dextrose agar media (SDA) culture followed by lacto phenol cotton blue staining (LPCB).

Results

Combined fungi-SDA-Culture

Microsporum Sp Candida albicans

Alternaria alternata Mucor Sp

The SDA culture and LPCB staining of the infected samples from the affected sheep population with enteritis and pneumonia revealed the presence of Microsporum Sp, Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans and Mucor Sp.

Discussion

In this study Microsporum Sp, Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans and Mucor Sp were identified in the enteric and pneumonic cases of sheep in Sitapur village of Gajapati district in Odisha state where the hot and cold climates prevails throughout the year. Emenuga and Oyeka (2013) [8] isolated T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum, Sporothrix schenckii, Candida albicans, Fusarium solani, Geotricum candidum and Aspergilus species in sheep and goats. Scott et al. (2001) [19] reported the prevalence of Tricophyton Sp, Microsporum Sp and Epidermophyton Sp. in animal hosts for extended periods. Santos and Marin 2005; Costa et al. (1993) [6] reported yeasts and fungi as opportunistic organisms under weak defence mechanism of the dairy cattle with mastitis. Jensen et al. (1994) [14] reported the respiratory and systemic invasion of the fungi to cause enteritis, endometritis and encephalitis in cattle and horse. Slaviero et al. (2020) [21] suggested mucorales as saprophytic opportunistic organisms. Ganesan and Anamika Meena (2024) [11] reported the prevalence of M.gypseum, M. nanum, T. tonsurans and Exserohilum rostratum in goat populations of Rajasthan state. Sharma et al. (2010) [20] reported

Microsporum gypseum, Tricophyton mentagrophytes and

Mucor Sp as a contaminants in cattle population in Rajasthan state. Ajello and Chermette et al. (1962) [2] reported the carrier status of the fungal organisms in the living animals. Sravani and Ganesan (2024) [9] reported the prevalence of Microsporum and Mucor species in buffaloe population of Rajasthan state. Ganesan et al. (2024) [10] reported the reservoir status of M. audouinii. M. gypseum, M. nanum, T. tonsurans, E. rostratum and Alternaria alternata in sheep population in Rajasthan state. Gawaz and Weisal (2018) [12] reported mixed infections of yeast like fungi, dermatophytes or moulds within the same lesions. Vipparti (2014) [25] reported mixed infextions of Aspergillus flavus with Candida albicans in an immuno compromised patient. Walsh 2004. Upton and Marr 2006 [24] ; Almyroudis et al. (2006) [1] reported prevalence of Aspergilus Sp, Alternaria alternata and Exserhilum rostratum species as opportunistic pathogens with the clinical signs i.e cutaneous lesions, intestinal disorders, pulmonary and cerebral diseases. Ganesan et al.

(2024) [11] reported the prevalence of T. verrucosum, M. audouinii, M. gypseum, A. niger, E. rostratum P. braziliensis and Alternaria alternata in Sirohi and Beetal goat breeds of Rajasthan state. Baumgardner (2017) [3] reported the prevalence of fungal infections due to infected beddings, warm environmetal temperature and humidiy. The present study was carried out in sheep population in an organised livestock farm in R. Sitapur village in Gajapati district of Odisha state, where the climatic conditions were in extreme status of hot and cold. This study revealed the existence of the Microsporum Sp, Candida albicans, Mucor Species and Alternaria alternata in sheep populations with enteric and pneumonic conditions. This study suggests the prevalence of Microsporum Sp, Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans, Mucor Sp as co opportunistic pathogens in the sheep populations due to contaminated premises.

Conclusions

Clinical examination of the affected population of the sheep with enteric and pneumonic problems revealed the prevalence of Microsporum Sp. Candida albicans, Mucor Species and Alternaria alternata. The attributed risk factors associated for the prevalence of the above fungal and yeast infections were due to the wet and dry conditions existing in the sheep unit through out the year. A detailed study on the prevalence of the pathogenic microbes needed in this sheep unit for successful management of the sheep population and to avoid the spillage of fungi to other healthy livestock of this farm and to rule out the co-pathogenic status of the studied fungi infections in the affected sheep population.

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