Outbreak of aspergillosis in a flock of geese in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

A goose from a flock of twenty five geese, with history of gaping, sternal recumbency, greenish watery diarrhea and inappetence was presented to the Avian and Poultry Health Unit of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Ruffled feathers, drooping of the wings, rales, greenish vent and clear greenish diarrhea were observed on physical examination. At necropsy, congested carcass, enlarged and congested liver and spleen, severely hemorrhagic, mucoid and congested trachea, severely congested lungs with multiple and diffused nodular growth all over the lungs were observed. There was a velvety greenish area in the lungs with black spots at the center and nodular growths on the intercostal muscles. Microscopically, the portions of lungs with nodules were composed of necrotic center with intralesional hyphae and conidia typical of Aspergillus spp., a peripheral inflammatory cell response composed of mononuclear cells infiltration and obliteration of alveolar cells. The mycologic culture allowed the isolation and identification of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) from lung samples. The gross and microscopic lesions, in combination with the mycologic identification, provided the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis due to A. flavus infection. CuSO₄ at 1 g per 5 liters of drinking water was used for a period of 7 days with no signs of the infection.

Keywords: Aspergillus spp., Geese, Gaping, Intralesional hyphae, Zaria