Study of yeast and yeast-like fungi in the oral flora of kittens in Khorramabad city.

Bastami, Narges; Mehrabi, Shariyar; Azadi Chegeni, Shiva

doi:10.22034/jahid.2025.2054529.1047

Study of yeast and yeast-like fungi in the oral flora of kittens in Khorramabad city.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Narges Bastami ¹

Shariyar Mehrabi ²

Shiva Azadi chegeni ³

¹ PhD in Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

² DVSc Graduated of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ShahidChamran Uiversity of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

³ PhD student in Bacteriology, Microbiology and FoodHygiene Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Iran.

10.22034/jahid.2025.2054529.1047

Abstract

Organisms that colonize the body of a living host form a holobiome with their host. Holobioms are networks of mutualistic interactions between host cells and communities of microorganisms. Fungi are among these microorganisms and are also known to infect humans and animals. These organisms are associated with a wide range of diseases as superficial or systemic infections. Fungi as a mycobiome can also alter host physiology and metabolism, energy absorption, vitamin-cofactor availability, immune system development and function, and even host behavior. Yeasts are unicellular organisms. The most important yeast genera in cats are Malassezia, Cryptococcus, Candida, and Trichosporon. In dogs and cats, yeasts preferentially colonize moist areas such as mucous membranes, skin mucosa, folds, areas between the toes, and ears.The objective of this study was to investigate yeast and yeast-like fungi in the oral flora of kittens in Khorramabad City. In this study, samples (gingival mucosa, dental and periodontal biofilm) were obtained from 50 kittens that did not appear to have oral and dental problems. The samples were then cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and olive oil to facilitate isolation and identification. Following a week of incubation, the colonies that appeared were examined in terms of colony morphology, pigment color, and Gram staining. Additionally, modified Dixon culture medium was employed to isolate Malassezia. The results indicated that among the 50 samples examined, 10 samples (20%) were positive for yeast presence. Of the samples that tested positive for yeast, three (30%) contained Malassezia yeast, while four (40%) were found to be infected with Candida yeast. The study's findings suggest that the composition of the normal oral flora of cats may be pathogenic under certain circumstances. This knowledge can be used to inform the selection of a therapeutic approach for the treatment of oral diseases.

Keywords

yeast

yeast-like

oral flora

kittens

Subjects

Mycology

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