This document discusses Aspergillosis, a fungal infection caused by the genus Aspergillus. It has both acute and chronic forms that can infect the sinuses, lungs, and other organs of birds and mammals. The most common causative species are A. fumigatus, A. flavus, and A. niger. Aspergillosis is typically treated with antifungal medications like voriconazole, though treatment can be difficult. Control involves maintaining dry, clean living conditions and avoiding exposure to soil or dust to prevent spore transmission.

1. Aspergillosis

2. Aspergillosis has been recognized as an important infection of
birds and mammals and characterized by acute or chronic
granulomatous infection of sinuses, bronchi, lungs an d occasionally
other parts pf the body.

3. Acute form:
 Anorexia , sleepiness, gasping and sometime
convulsion.
 Occasionally invasion of brain and causes
paralysis or other CNS involvement
 Occular infection common usually unilateral
 Birds fail to grow and keep affected eyes
closed.
 Later on cheesy exudates in conjunctival sacs

4. Chronic form
• Often affects older birds (single individual/few birds in a flock )
• Mortality will be low
• Anorexia , gasping or coughing and rapid weight loss.

5. Etiology
 Kingdom:Fungi
 Phylum: Ascomycota
 Class: Eurotiomycetes
 Order: Eurotiales
 Family: Trichocomaceae
 Genus: Aspergillus
 Species: A.fumigatus , A.flavus, A.terreus, A.niger, A.nidulans, A.ustus

6. Many species of Aspergilla are found
world wide . Th e species which
considered pathogenic for man are
:i-Aspergillus fumigatus.ii-aspergillums
nidulans.iii-aspergillums niger.iv-
aspergillums glaucus.v-Aspergillus
flavus.Aspergillosis colonies can grow
rapidly. At the beginning they appear as
fine filamintous growth, then conidia are
formed which give the colony its
characteristic colour as green , black,
white or brown

7. In saprophytic phase , they are present
either as mycelium or a heavily
melanised survival structure called
sclerotia.

8. Morphology
 The mycelium is composed of septate hyphae with dichotomous
branching.
 In the tissues, only mycelium is observed
 In body cavities filled with air , the conidiophores with phialides are
found.
 Multiply by sexual and asexual spores. They possess fruiting bodies
called ascocarp (scletoium).
 Ascocarp contains number of sac like structure called ascus that is
filled with sexual spores- ascospores.
 In biseriate , a layer of cells called metullae cover the vesicle
 In uniseriate the structure of metullae is absent.

9. A.fumigatus A.flavus A.niger
Common cause of
aspergillosis
Usually a contaminant, may
cause disease
Usually a contaminant, may
cause disease
Conidiophores are long( 300-
500 micron) and have club
shaped vesicles that are 30-50
micron in diameter
Conidiophores are long ( 400-
800 micron)and are often
rough just beneath the
globose vesicle(25-45 micron)
Profuse conidiatian so that
circumferential conidia
obscure vesicle
Vesicle is uniseriate and are
covered by phialides / conidia
on only distal half
Metullae absent
Phialides arise
circumferentially and are
biseriate or sometimes
uniseriate
Biseriate, but heavy
conidiation usually obscures
metaulae and phialides
Conidia arise in chains Conidia are round, rough
form long chains
Conidia are spherical ,
3-5micron , and roughen
with maturity

10. Fungi Host Disease
A.fumigatus, A.flavus,
A.niger, A.glaucus,
A.nidulans
poultry Avian aspergillosis
( Brooder pneumonia )
A. fumigatus Horse Guttural pouch mycosis
Nasal granuloma
Corneal ulcer
A. fumigatus Dogs Canine sinonasal aspergillosis
(Canine rhinitis)
Otitis externa
A. fumigatus Human Invasive aspergillosis
A. fumigatus Cattle, horse Sporadic abortion
A. fumigatus Cattle Mastitis
Pneumonia
Aspergillus spp. Calves
Horses
Mycotic gastritis
Keratomycosis

11. The colonies
are white
cotony which
becomes
granular with
green
coloration
after several
days
The colonies
are intially
white which
later become
cinnamon buff
coloured with
sugary texture
The colonies
are primarily
cotony and
later become
‘sugar texture’
with yellowish
green colour
The colonies
are white in
color in the
primary ,later
becomes black
due to
production of
black coloured
conidia
A.fumigatus A.terreus A.flavus A.niger

12. The source and reservoirs of
infection:-
Immediate source is the spores of
the organism which are widely
distributed in nature. They are
found in soil , water, air, food
stuffs, animal products, mouldy
grains, hay, bedding an d clinical
material

13. The reservoirs of infection
are birds, young squabs,
duckling, poults, cattle,
sheep, horse, cats, pigs and
rodents

14. Bovine Aspergillosis

15. Treatment
 No effective treatment exists .
 Voriconozole , Flucanozole, Itraconozole , Amphotericin B
 Nebulization , nasal or air sac flushing, surgical irrigation of abdominal
cavities
The nasal discharge usually resolves
within 7 – 14 days and rhinoscopy can
confirm the absence of fungal plaques.
If plaques are still present then a second
treatment can be followed

16. Control
• Dry, good quality litter and feed , hygiene .
• Thiabendazole and nystatin has been used in feed
• Avoid activities that involve close contact to soil or dust by wearing shoes,
protective clothing .
• Proper cleaning of skin injuries
• Antifungal medication if at high risk.

17. Presented by:-
Dr/ Ahmed Alaa Abdelfattah
Section no. 1