Aspergillosis in domestic and wild birds in northeastern Brazil: 2000-2022

ABSTRACT The epidemiologic, clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical, and microbiological findings of aspergillosis in birds in northeastern Brazil are described in this study. From January 2000 to December 2022 the Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal University of Campina Grande performed 357 necropsies on birds, 16 (4.48%) of which were diagnosed as aspergillosis. The disease affected domestic and wild birds, including quails, chickens, parrots, and a penguin. Affected animals were predominantly males, with ages ranging from 1-month-old to elderly; and reared in intensive, extensive or domiciliated systems, except for the penguin, which was free-living. The clinical course ranged from acute to chronic and clinical signs were mostly nonspecific or related to the respiratory system. Necropsy revealed lesions primarily in the respiratory tract, characterized by caseous nodules mainly in the air sacs and lungs, but there was also involvement of the liver, heart and crop. Histopathology revealed granulomatous and heterophilic inflammation associated with fungal hyphae. The diagnosis was based on epidemiologic, clinical, anatomopathological, immunohistochemical and microbiological findings. Aspergillosis affects both domestic and wild birds in the form of sporadic cases and outbreaks, causing significant economic losses in poultry farms. The disease must be included in the differential diagnosis of respiratory, digestive, and multisystemic disorders.