Morcegos da região de Manaus e suas relações com fungos patogênicos

Abstract

A total of 177 bats representing 6 families and 13 species were captured in 8 different areas in the environs of Manaus: 151 were autopsied. Wangielia dermatitidis, the agent of chromoblastomycosis was isolated from 5 bats of 4 different species: 2 Phyllostomus discolor, 1 Sturnira lilium, / Molossus molossus and 1 Myotis albencens. It was the first time that W. dermatitidis was isolated from bats or any other mammal, excluding man. In micro-culture, W. dermatitidis showed sporulation of the types: cladosporium, rhinocladiella, phyalophora, and pullularia phase; in Sabouraud's agar, potato, and Czapek-Dox média; it exhibited dimorphism at 25 and 37°C. It did not liquify gelatine nor did it hydrolyze starch and casein. Of the 4 species of bats carrying W. dermatitidis, only P. discolor was known to be suceptible to pathogenic fungus. 3 types of bats were frugivorous and 2 insectivorous; 4 of the 5 bats were collected in secondary forest (capoeiraJ; and all 5 were colonial bats. The frugivorous bats could be migratory, consequently spreaders of the fungus. Deforestation could increase the prevalence of chromoblastomycosis. The resting site of the bats and their social behaviour seem to be more important for the acquis it on of pathogenic fungi than their feeding habits.