Identification of pathogenic Aspergillus isolates from captive birds in Australia

Med Mycol. 2018 Nov 1;56(8):1038-1041. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myx137.

Abstract

Aspergillosis is a major cause of severe respiratory disease in birds. The prevalence of cryptic section Fumigati and other non-Aspergillus fumigatus species as causative agents is unknown. Species identity was determined in 30 isolates from affected birds from zoos, pet birds and poultry by PCR of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and partial β-tubulin genes. The most prevalent isolate was A. fumigatus sens. str. in 87% (26) cases. Other Aspergillus species were identified in 13% (4) cases, including A. restrictus (1), A. flavus sens. str. (2), and A. nidulans-clade (1). This is the first report of A. restrictus causing avian disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Animals, Zoo
  • Aspergillosis / epidemiology
  • Aspergillosis / veterinary*
  • Aspergillus / classification*
  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification*
  • Australia
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / microbiology*
  • Birds / microbiology*
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Pets
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tubulin / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Tubulin