Yeasts isolated from the mammalian alimentary tract

SUMMARY: A survey of the yeasts found in the alimentary canal of 169 animals has been carried out. Representatives of 17 species and 6 genera were isolated but of these only 4 species, Torulopsis pintolopesii, Saccharomycopsis guttulata, Candida albicans, and T. glabrata were considered to be true intestinal types. C. parapsilosis and C. krusei were classed as intermediates and the remainder as transients. The validity of the species T. pintolopesii is considered doubtful. Although the yeast flora of the human alimentary tract has been studied to some extent little is known of the yeasts which occur in other animals. A few early investigations such as those of Catanei (1925) on monkeys and Talice (1932) on hedgehogs established the presence of members of the genus Candida in the intestines of healthy animals. De Mello (1940) reported the presence of Candida and Geotrichoides spp. in the intestines of normal laboratory animals. Coutelon & Cochet (1942) also investigated laboratory animals but reported only those species of medical interest from the yeasts isolated. In a survey of fungi isolated from suspected mycotic infections of domestic animals Ainsworth & Austwick (1955) noted the importance of the yeast component in the mycoflora of the alimentary canal and respiratory organs. The present survey covers a somewhat wider range of animals than those previously noted