Nine strains of Pythium insidiosum the etiologic agent of pythiosis, were inoculated on 2% water agar plus grass blades and then incubated one day at 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Sporangium and secondary biflagellate-type zoosporas from the parasitized grass blades were noticed in induction medium after one hour of incubation at 35 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The number of sporangia and zoospores were lower at 25 degrees C, than 35 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Increasing the days of incubation of the parasitized grass blades resulted in the increase in the time of incubation in the induction medium. Corn meal agar, Schmitthenner medium and Sabouraud dextrose agar were also tested but the sporangium and zoosporas were always observed after five hours of incubation in induction medium.

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ABSTRACT. A cross-sectional survey of a convenient sample of domestic cats from Costa Rica's greater metropolitan area was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibodies against feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), feline parvovirus (FPV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and antigens of feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Blood samples were collected from at least 96 cats from June 1998 to December 2001; data related to the individual cats and household variables were obtained using a questionnaire. Antibodies against FHV-1 were found in 71.9% of the cats sampled, but only 25.0% of them had a history of previous vaccination. The prevalence of FPV was 92.8%, and all positive cats showed protective antibodies titres; however, only 16.5% of them were previously vaccinated. Antigens of FeLV were detected in 16.7% of the sampled cats; 11 (64.7%) of the 17 positive cats were older than 1 year at the time of testing. No differences were found between the percentage of seropositive males and females. Antibodies against FIV were detected in 8.8% of the samples tested; 8 (88.8%) of the seropositive cats were older than 1 year of age, and a greater proportion of seropositive males (66.6%) was found. KEY WORDS: feline herpesvirus type 1, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, feline parvovirus.