Mycotic Diseases (Aspergillosis)

Abstract

Fungal diseases are consistently ignored throughout the years regardless of their disturbing effect on human well-being. It is evaluated those fungal contaminations kill more than 1.5 million individuals each year. Recent global estimates have found 3,000,000 cases of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in a year. Aspergillosis is among the most vital and common diseases in pet birds, caused by Aspergillus, mainly by A. fumigatus. It is widely distributed in the birds which are exposed to Aspergillus spores. Aspergillosis can be of acute or chronic form. The acute form develops quickly in a couple of days, and the birds may die due to lung infection and respiratory problems. In the chronic form, the bird shows slow development of clinical symptoms, loss of weight, and formation of nodules in the internal organs. The leading cause of about 90% of the pulmonary mycosis in humans is the A. fumigatus. The disease is more severe in immunosuppressed persons having neoplastic treatment. The antifungal agents that have been used in the treatment of birds are clotrimazole, itraconazole, enilconazole, terbinafine, and amphotericin B. The primary factor in controlling the avian aspergillosis is environmental control. Efforts in minimizing environmental factors responsible for the growth of Aspergillus around the birds may help in reducing the development of aspergillosis.