Review about Aspergillosis in Poultry

Aspergillosis is one of the respiratory diseases affecting avian species. It is caused by a fungal species called Aspergillus fumigatus. Inhalation of spores or penetration through cracked egg shell are the main routes of infection. Lung and air sacs are the primary sites of fungal invasion, causing yellow cheesy granulomas, pneumonia and airsacculitis. Microscopically, Pyogranulomas contain variable amounts of branching hyphae surrounded by foreign body giant cells, macrophages, heterophils, lymphocytes, thrombosis and severe destruction of blood vessels wall are seen. Aspergillosis occurs in two forms, acute and chronic form. Acute form occurs in young chicks causing severe mortalities while, chronic form occurs in immunocompromised birds. Clinical signs of Aspergillosis are not specific so its diagnosis depends on history, postmortem examination, PCR, serological, biochemical and hematological tests.