A total of 100 apparently healthy rats and mice were trapped and examined for the presence of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) of zoonotic importance.
The isolated bacteria were: Staph. aureus (8%), Strep. pyogenes (5%), Coryneb. diphtherae (1%), Coryneb. pyogenes (12%), E.coli (53%), Strept. foaecalis (25%), Proteus vulgaris (22%), Pseudomo nas aerogenosa (30%), Shigella flexneri (3%) and Arizona (1%). The isolated fungi were: Aspergillus fumigatus (4%), Aspergillus flavus (3%), Aspergillus niger (5%), Candida albicans (7%), Candida tropicalis (12%), Candida krusei (9%), Penicillium sp. (35%), Rhizopus species (19%), Mucor species (22%), Geotrichum species (10%), Alternaria species (4%) and Rhodotorula species (5%).
The zoonotic importance of each strain was discussed.