Abstract
The One Health context considers health based on three pillars: humans, animals, and environment. This approach is a strong ally in the surveillance of infectious diseases and in the development of prevention strategies. Aspergillus spp. are fungi that fit substantially in this context, in view of their ubiquity, as well as their importance as plant pathogens, and potentially fatal pathogens for, particularly, humans and avian species. In addition, the emergence of azole resistance, mainly in Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto, and the proven role of fungicides widely used on crops, reinforces the need for a multidisciplinary approach to this problem. Avian species are involved in short and long distance travel between different types of landscapes, such as agricultural fields, natural environments and urban environments. Thus, birds can play an important role in the dispersion of Aspergillus, and of special concern, azole-resistant strains. In addition, some bird species are particularly susceptible to aspergillosis. Therefore, avian aspergillosis could be considered as an environmental health indicator. In this review, aspergillosis in humans and birds will be discussed, with focus on the presence of Aspergillus in the environment. We will relate these issues with the emergence of azole resistance on Aspergillus. These topics will be therefore considered and reviewed from the “One Health” perspective.
Highlights
Aspergillosis is a fungal disease caused by Aspergillus, which can affect humans, dogs, cats, horses, marine mammals, wild and domestic birds and even invertebrates, such as bees and corals [1]
In Spain, a study regarding the concentration of new-generation fungicides released from crops in throughfall were determined during rainfall episodes, and concluded that these concentrations far exceeded the maximum permissible levels for drinking water established by the European Union (EU) regulations
In summary (Figure 5), there is much evidence suggesting the potential role of avian species in azole resistant Aspergillus
Summary
Aspergillosis is a fungal disease caused by Aspergillus, which can affect humans, dogs, cats, horses, marine mammals, wild and domestic birds and even invertebrates, such as bees and corals [1]. Some characteristics present in Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto can partially explain why this species is the leading human and animal pathogen, such as rapid growth, small size of the conidia (1–4 μm), thermotolerance (growth between 15 ◦C and 55 ◦C, able to tolerate up to 70 ◦C), tolerance to high pH, low nutritional requirements, and production of secondary metabolites such as gliotoxin. The latter represents an important virulence factor [16,22,23,26] helping in tissue invasion. Given the current conditions of global warming, this feature could favor A. fumigatus growth and its dispersion in the environment [28]
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