Dermatophytes and other skin mycoses found in featherless broiler toe webs

Background: Feartherless broilers which are produced by a complex breeding programme from feathered parents carrying the Sc-gene, dissipates excessive body heat under hot and humid conditions. It has high body weight, and grows very rapidly when compared with standard commercial broilers. Their toe webs are bigger than standard commercial broilers, and could harbor fungi which can cause infections where there is the opportunity. Objectives: To isolate and identify the presence of fungi in toe webs of featherless broilers. Methods: A total of 50 featherless broilers' toe webs samples were examined microscopically for the presence of fungi. The samples were examined microscopically and culturally using standard microbiological techniques. Results: The fungi recovered were as follows. Microsporum gypseum 9 (22%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes 5 (12%), Microsporum gallinae 3 (7%), Aspergilus flavus 10 (24%), Fusarium sp 6 (15%), Alternaria alternata 3 (7%) Scopulariopsis brevicaulis 2 (5%) and Candida albicans 3 (7%), Conclusion: The featherless broilers' toe webs habour fungi which cause mycotic skin disease and cannot be regarded as ordinary normal flora of toe webs