Mycological Profile of the Integumentary System in Felin Ponies

Yeast-like microorganisms are frequently isolated from horses. There is a serious interpretation problem with assessment of the health status in the diagnostics of infectious diseases, which is associated with the insufficient knowledge of the composition of the natural flora in the horses’ integumentary system. The aim of the investigations was to analyse the yeast-like flora isolated from healthy Felin ponies. The study involved 44 horses aged from 2 to 12 years. The analysed group comprised 28 mares and 16 stallions. The animals were kept in an outdoor rearing system with a possibility of periodic use of a wooden/brick shed. The investigations were conducted in an annual cycle divided into 4 periods corresponding to the seasons of the year. Smears were sampled from horses’ nostrils, mouth, ear, back, groin, vagina or foreskin, and collateral groove. Microbiological analysis of the yeast-like strains was performed after plating 1015 samples of material taken from healthy horses. The identification of fungal species was based on their culture characteristics and biochemical profile. Fourteen yeast species were isolated and identified from the sampled material. Candida guilliermondii and Candida albicans 1 were the most prevalent fungi. The study has shown seasonal variability of the composition of the integumentary system microflora in Felin ponies. The greatest number of isolates was obtained from the material sampled from the mouth.