Isolation and Identification of Fungi from Reproductive Tract of Healthy Bali Cows

Abstract

Bacterial and fungal diseases, such as mycotic endometritis and abortion, are one of the causes of reproductive diseases in Bali cattle. Earlier studies on bovine uterine microflora have mainly focused on bacteria; however, the presence of fungi has yet to be discussed in detail. This study aimed to provide data on the prevalence and identification of fungi by using morphological methods. The samples were vaginal swabs obtained from 22 healthy female Bali cattle from various locations in Bali, Indonesia. For isolation, vaginal swabs were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) medium and identification was performed macroscopically by observing colony growth and microscopically using the tape smear method stained with Methylene Blue stain. The results showed that 32 fungi belonging to seven genera were isolated from 22 Bali cows. The prevalence rates of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, and Candida, Mucor, and Penicillium spp. were 41, 25, 19, 6, and 3%, respectively. These data add important information to the literature on the fungal microbiota in healthy Bali cows.