Abstract
The ubiquitous fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus are able to proliferate in a large number of environments on organic substrates. The spores of these opportunistic pathogens, when inhaled, can cause serious and often fatal infections in a wide variety of captive and free-roaming wild birds. The relative importance of innate immunity and the level of exposure in the development of the disease can vary considerably between avian species and epidemiological situations. Given the low efficacy of therapeutic treatments, it is essential that breeders or avian practitioners know the conditions that favor the emergence of Aspergillosis in order to put adequate preventive measures in place.
Highlights
Aspergillosis holds a very special place in veterinary and human medicine, because it is the main type of mycosis affecting birds and mammals, including human beings [1]
The great diversity of species susceptible to this infection, including domestic and wild animals living in captivity or in natural environments; the omnipresence of the Aspergillus fungi in varied indoor and outdoor environments on all continents except Antarctica; the ability of this opportunistic mold to grow efficiently in its ecological niche and in birds following inhalation of its spores; the severity of the infections observed, which can result in a high mortality rate; the fact that, despite the relatively large number of case reports and amount of experimental data, those obtained from poultry species, the pathogenesis of avian aspergillosis is still poorly understood [2,5]
In the framework of epidemiological surveys, more extensive screening could increase the detectability of resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates and even a multi-resistance pattern, as demonstrated in poultry contexts [225,226]
Summary
Aspergillosis holds a very special place in veterinary and human medicine, because it is the main type of mycosis affecting birds and mammals, including human beings [1]. The great diversity of species susceptible to this infection, including domestic and wild animals living in captivity or in natural environments; the omnipresence of the Aspergillus fungi in varied indoor and outdoor environments on all continents except Antarctica; the ability of this opportunistic mold to grow efficiently in its ecological niche and in birds following inhalation of its spores; the severity of the infections observed, which can result in a high mortality rate; the fact that, despite the relatively large number of case reports and amount of experimental data, those obtained from poultry species, the pathogenesis of avian aspergillosis is still poorly understood [2,5]. A. fumigatus occurred as a filamentous fungus exhibiting a “smoky grey color” in a wet mount It was isolated in the bronchi and air sacs of a great bustard (Otis tarda) from the zoological park of Frankfurt [6,7]. The objective of this review was to synthesize current knowledge related to aspergillosis in wild avifauna and pet or game birds that could be useful to all those involved in the management of these kinds of animals (veterinarians, zookeepers, pet owners, conservation program managers, wildlife rehabilitators)
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