The aim of this investigation was to study epidemiological aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis, the main endemic systemic mycosis in Brazil. This study was carried out using the paracoccidioidin delayed hypersensitivity test in 96 Latin American wild mammals, including 49 arboreal animals (primates): 33 Cebus apella (weepingcapuchin), 16 Callithrixjacchus (marmoset); and 47 terrestrial animals (carnivora): 37 Nasua nasua (coatimundi), and 10 Felidae [Panthera onca (jaguar), Felis pardalis (ocelot), Fells wiedii (margay), Felis tigrina (wild cat) and Felis geoffroyi (wild cat)], taking their behaviour and habitat into consideration. When the levels of paracoccidioidin positive reactions were examined, terrestrial animals showed significantly higher rates (82'98%) while arboreal animals showed lower reactivity (22.45%) (P<0.01). The data are relevant because there are quite a few papers regarding domestic and wild animals and this study may help the understanding of some aspects of the parasite ecology. These results point to the soil as the most probable reservoir of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and this is possibly the ecological niche of the saprophytic phase in nature.

Sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis are deep mycosis with a high incidence in human beings in Brazil. In domestic animals histoplasmosis has been described only in dogs, but the occurrence of sporotrichosis among domestic animals in Brazil has been described in dogs, cats, mules and asses. There is also a case of this disease reported in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodites). The purpose of this research was to perform an epidomiological study of these mycoses using delayed hypersensitivity tests (histoplasmin and sporotrichin) in Latin American wild mammals. This research was assayed using 96 healthy animals at Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, Brazil: Primates: 33 Cebus apella--weeping-capuchin and 16 Callithrix jacchus--marmoset; Procyonidae: 37 Nasua nasua--coatimundi and 10 Felidae (Panthera onca--jaguar; Felis pardalis--ocelot Felis wiedii--margay; Felis tigrina--wild cat). For intradermic tests, the following antigens were used: Sporothrix schenkii cell suspension (sporotrichin, histoplasmin-filtrate), Histoplasma capsulatum cell suspension (histoplasmin), and Histoplasma capsulatum (polysaccharide). The positivity to histoplasmin was 44.79% (Cebidae 15.15%; Callithricidae 6.25%; Procyonidae 86.49% and Felidae 50.00%, respectively). With respect to sporotrichin, 30.21% (Cebidae 6.06%, Callithricidae 0.0%; Procyonidae 64.86% and Felidae 30.00% respectively). The pattern of infection is similar to that shown by human beings and this may suggest that these animals could be involved in the epidemiologic chain of sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis, the second most prevalent human deep mycoses in Brazil. It is important to point out the absence of similar studies in Latin American wild animals.

Costa, E.O., Diniz, L.S.M. and Fava Netto, C., 1995. The prevalence of positive intradermal reactions to paracoccidioidin in domestic and wild animals in

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