Aspergillosis in mammals and birds: impact on veterinary medicine

Abstract

Aspergillosis is relatively uncommon in mammals, but dogs, horses, cows and dolphins are susceptible. On the other hand, aspergillosis is a major cause of mortality in birds. This paper provides an overview of the manifestations of this disease in these animals. Treatment options are still lacking, but the increased incidence of the disease in humans has led to increased study, which may benefit both human and veterinary medicine.

Fungal flora in the trachea of birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Spain

“…Raptors are included as a species especially susceptible to aspergillosis (Tell, 2005). In this context, aspergillosis has been described in most diurnal raptors, although some authors consider that nocturnal raptors are rarely affected (Wolf et al, 1992;Redig, 1993).…”

“…There is evidence that the occurrence of this stress needs to be concurrent with the inhalation of spores to develop a fungal disease (Dixon et al, 1989;Redig, 1993;Bauk, 1994). Anatomical characteristics that might predispose birds to this disease include the absence of the epiglottis for preventing particulate matter from entering the lower respiratory tract, absence of the diaphragm resulting in the inability to produce a strong cough reflex, and a limited distribution of pseudo-stratified ciliated columnar cells through the respiratory tract (Tell, 2005).…”

Identification and characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates from broilers

“…Other species like A. flavus, A. niger, A. nidulans and A. terreus may also be isolated from avian cases of aspergillosis (sometimes in mixed infections) but much less frequently than A. fumigatus (Tell 2005, Arné et al 2011. Species within the section Fumigati have been described as human pathogens, particularly A. lentulus, A. viridinutans, Neosartorya pseudofischeri and N. udagawae (Serrano et al 2011).…”

Microsatellite typing of Aspergillus flavus from clinical and environmental avian isolates

“…Fungal infections due to members of the genus Aspergillus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among certain captive or free-ranging bird species, independent of age or immune system status (Beernaert et al, 2008;Tell, 2005). The airborne spores of Aspergillus species are ubiquitous, and avian aspergillosis occurs wherever environmental conditions are favourable to fungal growth.…”

“…Although this fungus is not contagious by the horizontal transmission route, aspergillosis epidemics occur in birds exposed to the same stressors or other environmental risk factors. In comparison with mammals, birds are highly susceptible to respiratory infection with Aspergillus fumigatus (Tell, 2005), and pulmonary invasive aspergillosis is a common disease in birds, causing significant economic losses in the poultry industry, with up to 30 % fatality (Zafra et al, 2008). While outbreaks of human invasive aspergillosis in hospital settings have been studied by several groups (Bertout et al, 2001;Chazalet et al, 1998;Rosehart et al, 2002), only one study focused on the epidemiology of aspergillosis in poultry (Lair-Fulleringer et al, 2003), and another recently in captive penguins (Alvarez-Perez et al, 2010).…”