Histopathological identification of aspergillosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo

Abstract

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animal heads of 184 species from significant genetic diversity and five million visitors' influx round the year is placing it a public health important spot. This study was conducted to investigate aspergillosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo to ascertain animal health, welfare and public health safety standard. One hundred and two necropsied tissue samples preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy from 36 animals of 25 different species were collected from Dhaka Zoo. Twenty five out of 36 study animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases. Among them 13 animals were suffering from Aspergillosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions from necropsy findings, granulomatous reactions along with fungal spores and characteristic radiating club on histopathology; dichotomously branching septate hyphae and mycelial conidiophore on special staining were revealed Aspergillosis in 13 animals of nine species that includes four rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), two samber deer (Cervus unicolor) and one of each species were nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), horse (Equus caballus), stripped hyena (Hyena hyena), gayal (Bos frontalis), beisa oryx (Oryx beisa beisa), water buck (Kobus L. leche) and greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Present study provides evidence of existing Aspergillosis and similar long standing zoonotic diseases in majority of rest of the animals with health risk that shades health safety standard at Dhaka Zoo.

Important Mycoses of Wildlife: Emphasis on Etiology, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Pathology—A Review: PART 1

“…Moreover, no single test provides a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, its diagnosis is dependent on an accretion of empirical evidence from the history, clinical signs, hematology, biochemistry, serology, radiographic changes, endoscopy, and culture of the fungus [ 17 , 33 , 34 ].…”

“…A histology of the ribs showed osteomyelitis with osteonecrosis, the presence of infiltrating inflammatory cells, and septated hyphae [ 19 ]. Upon a special histochemical staining, nodular reactions along with fungal spores and a characteristic radiating club, diploid branching septated hyphae, and mycelial conidiophores were observed in wild species including Rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ), sambar deer ( Rusa unicolor ), striped hyena ( Hyaena hyaena ), gayal ( Bos frontalis ), East African oryx ( Oryx beisa ), waterbuck ( Kobus ellipsiprymnus ), and greater kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros ) suffering aspergillosis [ 34 ].…”

“…Rhesus monkeys with histoplasmosis presented signs including coughing, anorexia, emaciation, and intermittent weakness followed by death [ 34 ]. An African pygmy hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris ) with histoplasmosis showed signs of inappetence, weakness, lethargy, and weight loss [ 97 ].…”

Concurrent yellow fever and pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in a free‐ranging howler monkey (Alouatta sp)

“…Humans and many other animal species may develop Aspergillus ‐related diseases with variable clinical manifestations 1,2 . Spontaneous infections, ranging from chronic localized aspergilloma to acute invasive aspergillosis, are described in captive Old World non‐human primates, mostly associated with underlying diseases or predisposing factors 3‐5 . Some species are also considered experimental model for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.…”

“…1,2 Spontaneous infections, ranging from chronic localized aspergilloma to acute invasive aspergillosis, are described in captive Old World non-human primates, mostly associated with underlying diseases or predisposing factors. [3][4][5] Some species are also considered experimental model for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. In neotropical non-human primates (NNHP), Aspergillus spp.…”