Fungal flora in chicken pens and its aetiopathogenic importance to humans and animals

In order to find out the mycoflora prevailing in chicken pens, and to appre ciate the health hazards for employees (incl. veterinarians) and animals, t wenty litter samples and 6 sedimented dust trials were analysed mycological ly. The following results were found: Bedding and dust samples all contained between 3.57 and 1.30 x 10(7) c.f.u. /g DW. The commonest fungus is A. fumigatus with 3.41 x 10(4) - 1.30 x 10(7 ) c.f.u./g DW in bedding and 2.70 x 10(5) - 3.30 x 10(6) c.f.u./g DW in sed imented dust. In addition, the following fungal spp. were detected (in c.f. u./g DW):;Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (3.57 x 10(3) - 6.50 x 10(7)), Pseudal lescheria boydii (2.70 x 10(6)), A. flavus group (up to 8.41 x 10(5)), A. c lavatus (6.00 x 10(5)), Candida albicans (4,88 x 10(5)), Alternaria spp. (4 .49 x 10(5)) Penicillium spp. (up to 1.06 x 10(5)), A. terreus (8.47 x 10(4 )), A. versicolor group (up to 8.44 x 10(4)), A. niger (5.93 x 10(4)), Aure obasidium sp. (3.96 x 10(3)), Mucor circinelloides (3.42 x 10(3)), Phialoph ora sp. (1.30 x 10(3)), C. pseudotropicalis (4.04 x 10(2)), A. nidulans (3. 90 x 10(2)), Acremonium sp. (3.55 x 10(2)), M. racemosus (1.19 x 10(2)). Ne gligible was the detected level of Chrysosporium pannorum (84.10), Rhizomuc or pusillus (81.00), Beauveria alba (59.60), C. tropicalis (40.40), Trichod erma sp. (4.70), A. flavipes (4.38). Dermatophytes were not found. The fung al spectrum was broader in the dust than in litter samples.