1218-1222Fungal
species, which were shown to colonize consistently on the skin surface of the
breast region of adult (1year old)white leghorn fowl, were identified as Aspergillus
sydowii, A. tamarii , A. rugulosus and Absidia corymbifera.Of these,A
sydowii and A. tamarii were the dominant forms. Two species of fungi,
namely, Aspergillus niger
and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were shown to be present in
the cultures of the scrubbings from breast skin surface after 60 days or captivity of
the fowls. Extirpation of the uropygiai gland resulted in encouragement of the in
vitro population growth of all specices of fungi except that of A.rugulosus.
The effect was found to be very conspicuous for A. sydowii and A.
tamarii, particularly after 60 days of gland removal. Addition of total
lipids and the wax diester component of free- flowing uropygial secretion as
0.2%
suspension in Sabouraud 's agar medium of individual fungal isolates caused
marked suppression of the population growth of A. sydowii, A. tamarii,
Absidia corymbifera and to some extent of S. brevicaulis. Other
components of secretory lipids, such as wax alcohols (2,3-alkane-diols ), wax
acids, triglycerides and hydrocarbons (including squalene) when supplemented
separately to culture medium of individual fungi at identical concentration,
were also shown to cause inhibition of the growth of most of fungal species at
different degrees