FUNGI ON FEATHERS OF COMMON CLINICALLY HEALTHY BIRDS IN BELGRADE

In the quarantines of the epyzootiological territory of Belgrade, feathers deriving from live and dead dehydrated exotic birds were samples. Birds were housed in closed disinfected bird shelter facilities with cages. Study was carried out in 4 quarantines of total 22, during 2010, and it included only 5 bird species, 3 birds of each species (Coracias cyanogaste, Acridothere tristis, S. canaria, Pycnonotus cafer and Tockus fasciatus). A total of 15 samples of feathers were analyzed. Samples were placed in the antibiotics solution, for 24 hours at room temperature, and subsequently cultivated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and Potato dextrose agar, in aerobic conditions in the darkness at the temperature of in 37°C duration of 5 days, and 3-4 weeks at 20±2 oC (Scopulariopsis spp.), and in aerobic conditions at room temperature of 20±2 oC for 5 days (Aspergillus spp., Penicillum spp. and Fusarium spp.) The presence of Scopulariopsis spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillum spp. and Fusarium spp. was identified. The study showed that commonly healthy birds, as well as dead birds, which died mainly due to exhaustion and dehydration during transportation, can carry various fungi/moulds which contaminate the air, soil and water surrounding their habitats. Most of these birds are sold as closed domesticated pets which are clinically healthy birds, however, they can be important source of potentially pathogen causers which they carry on their body. This finding of fungal species on the body/feathers of birds are naturally suitable place for their transmission, and this also contributes to better understanding of the nature and occurrence of many wide spread diseases in transmiting mycoses.