Involvement of Candida albicans in hyperkeratosis of the Göttingen minipig

Abstract

At a breeding colony of Göttingen minipigs, 6404 animals born in 1995-1997 were examined for the ocurance of hyperkeratosis. and the percentage of animals with hyperkeratosis was calculated on a monthly base. From 25 animals. skin swabs were taken, and the swabs were inoculated on Saburaud’s agar. pH 4.2 at 20 C for three to seven days. All morphologically distinct colonies were sampled and grown as pure cultures on Sabauraud’s agar after which they were Gram stained. The percentage animals with hyperkeratosis varied from 1.4 to 6.9% monthly, with an average of 3.6%, 4.9% and 4 8% for the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. Candida albicans infection was not found on the skin at. the back or head of animals with hyperkeratosis. One healthy animal was positive for Candida albicans. Some animals had a brown staining at the periocular regioni of the sampled animals with brown staining at the periocular region, all findings were positive for Candida albicans. Other infections found were Candida humicola and Trichosporon spp. In connection with histological examination Candida parapsilosis was found. The underlying cause of hyperkeratosis remains unknown. Hyperkeratosis is not associated with Candida albicans infection.