Aspergillus

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

1 of 20 pathogenic fungi in family if Trichocomaceae-> A. fumigatus and A. niger forms

Question 2

Environmental preferences

Answer 2

grows in warm, moist decomposing organic matter such as soil, grain, straw, and silage

Question 3

Species affected

Answer 3

Waterfowl, raptors, and gulls most susceptible
- can occur in farmed deer, alpacas, camels, dolphins, and wild felids

Question 4

Transmission cycle

Answer 4

Reproduces asexually via forming aerial fruiting bodies that bear conidiospores-> form on conidiospores-> inhaled into lungs and air sacs-> spores get lodged after soil is disturbed-> germinate and grow hyphae-> germinate and grow hyphae-> form plaques or nodules in the respiratory tract-> spread through blood stream
can occur by puncture wounds

Question 5

Acute pathogenesis

Answer 5

exposure to an overwhelming amount of spores

Question 6

Chronic pathogenesis

Answer 6

usually associated with immunodeficiency

Question 7

Pathogenesis

Answer 7

inhalation of spores-> small enough to bypass mucociliary apparatus-> disseminates through caudal air sacs-> germinate into tissues-> created necrosis of pulmonary tissues-> increases inflammatory response-> immune cells form granulomas
poor immune response-> spores enter bloodstream and penetrate bones
can produce mycotoxins

Question 8

Acute Clinical signs

Answer 8

sudden death

Question 9

Chronic Clinical signs

Answer 9

dyspnea, gasping, anorexia, torticollis, ataxia

Question 10

Pathologic Lesions

Answer 10

-nodules and/or colored conidiophores in respiratory tract
-pectoral muscle atrophy
-hemorrhagic and edematous lesions in brain, kidney, lungs, liver, spleen, intestines, testes, and heart
-green-grey to black cottony textured materials in respiratory tract

Question 11

Effects on Wildlife Populations

Answer 11

-epizootic episodes have been reported in waterfowl and crows
-environmental contaminants play a role in epizootic episodes
-caused mortality in marine mammals

Question 12

Mortality

Answer 12

is more likely in younger animals influenced by severity and duration of exposure and stress from concurrent infections

Question 13

Diagnosis

Answer 13

Clinical signs, ELISA, PCR, transtracheal wash culture, endoscopy, radiographs, female birds test for IgG in eggs

Question 14

Management

Answer 14

-Captive animals should have their environments frequently cleaned
-use of respiratory masks in contaminated areas and handling bird carcasses with suspect aspergillosis
-disposing of infected animals instead of eating them