Aspergillosis: a limiting factor during recovery of captive magellanic penguins

Abstract

The article describes the epidemiology, macroscopic and histological lesions as well as the isolation of Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus from Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) during recovery in the Center for Recovery of Marine Animals (CRAM -32ºS/52ºW), over a period of two years. From January 2004 to December 2005 the Center received 52 Magellanic penguins, and 23% (12/52) died. Necropsies were performed and tissue samples were collected for histological and microbiological examination. From 12 dead animals, aspergillosis was confirmed in five animals, corresponding to 42% of the mortality. Granulomatous nodules were observed mainly on air sacs and lungs. Histologically, septate and branching hyphae, measuring 3-5 µm and PAS positive were found. Two of these cases were caused by A. fumigatus, two other by A. flavus, and in one the diagnostic was established by macroscopic lesions observed in the necropsy without sample collection for fungal isolation and identification. The five aspergillosis cases occurred in the first year of the study, when a disinfection program was not yet established in the CRAM. This paper points out the importance of aspergillosis in the rehabilitation process of captive penguins, and emphasize the necessity of an environmental disinfection on the aspergillosis prevention, mycosis that caused a high rate of mortality of the seabirds found on the Brazilian coast and admitted in the CRAM.

Gross and histopathological findings in magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus Forster, 1781)

“…Unlike what Xavier et al (2007) suggests, infectious disease did not constitute a significant factor in the cause of death of the animals examined in the present study, tracheal swab was made on animals that come in alive and no pathogen presence was detected.…”

ISOLAMENTO E IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE FUNGOS DO GÊNERO Aspergillus spp. DE ÁGUA UTILIZADA NA REABILITAÇÃO DE PINGUINS-DEMAGALHÃES

“…Segundo Latgé (25) , a espécie A. fumigatus apresenta termotolerância mais elevada que as outras espécies do gênero, o que condiz com as informações encontradas nesta pesquisa (27) . A termotolerância é ainda um dos fatores que contribuem com a alta patogenicidade da espécie, sendo a maior causadora de casos clínicos em pinguins (6,27) , os quais apresentam uma temperatura corporal de cerca de 40 ºC (2) . O pH das amostras de água coletadas variou de 7 a 9 e não influenciou significativamente (p>0,05) no isolamento do gênero Aspergillus, bem como da espécie A. fumigatus.…”

“…Este gênero caracteriza-se por fungos filamentosos com hifas hialinas, septadas e ramificadas em ângulo agudo, as quais se diferenciam em estruturas reprodutivas típicas para dar origem aos conídios (3) . Dentro desse gênero, a espécie responsável pelo maior número de casos clínicos tanto em pinguins quanto nos demais hospedeiros é A. fumigatus (4)(5)(6)(7) , a qual apresenta colônia pulverulenta, verde-azulada e de rápido crescimento (8) . A aspergilose é considerada a maior causa de mortalidade em pinguins em cativeiro (1,3,5,7) .…”

Blood parameters and measurements of weight in the rehabilitation of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus, Foster 1781)

“…This absence of significant gain in weight during rehabilitation, when the animals receive any nutritional intake necessary for their recovery, may be related to the manifestation of symptoms of a disease, such as aspergillosis, for example, which may have resulted in the death of these animals (Xavier et al, 2007). …”