Open AccessAspergillosis in domestic and wild birds from Argentina
Author(s) -
Romina Della Vedova,
Alejandra Hevia,
Walter Vivot,
Julián Fernández,
Susana Córdoba,
Francisco José Reynaldi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
brazilian journal of veterinary research and animal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.187
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1678-4456
pISSN - 1413-9596
DOI - 10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2019.152460
Subject(s) - biology , aspergillus fumigatus , aspergillosis , aspergillus , antifungal , aspergillus flavus , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , veterinary medicine , immunology , medicine
Aspergillus species are widely distributed throughout the world and can develop parasitic and saprophytic ways of life, allowing Aspergillus to infect living hosts, including plants, insects, birds and mammals. The most common form of aspergillosis in poultry and other birds is respiratory infection. Clinical manifestations depend on the infective dose, pre-existing diseases, and the immune response of the host. The aim of the present research was to study aspergillosis in domestic and wild birds from Argentina. We carried out morphological and molecular identification, and determination of antifungal susceptibility against seven antifungal drugs. Six birds from different cities of Buenos Aires Province of Argentina were studied. Three of the samples belonged to broiler chicks, while the other three belonged to an eagle, a pheasant, and a kelp gull. Two isolates were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus by morphological characteristics and growth at 50 °C. Morphology and BenA sequencing enabled us to identify three isolates as Aspergillus flavus, and one as Aspergillus sydowii. All antifungal drugs tested showed low MIC values, ranging from 0.008 to 1 mg/L. Aspergillosis in birds causes high economic losses and could be controlled by sanitation, avoidance of moldy food, nest and litter and reducing stress factors.