Pathology of Aspergilosis in ducks and its clinical management

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the pathology of Aspergillosis in ducks. A total of 10 cases were recorded during the months of June & July, 2019. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical signs, gross & microscopic alterations and isolation of the fungus. The clinical signs observed in the affected ducks include respiratory distress, dyspnoea, gasping and accelerated breathing associated with loss of appetite, stunted growth, lethargy and increased thirst. Grossly, there were presence of whiteyellowish caseous nodules in the lung, airsacs, gizzard, liver, thoracic wall and abdominal serosa. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of focal granulomatous lesions in the lungs characterized by central necrotic area with infiltration of heterophils, macrophages, epithelioid cells and formation of giant cells. Similar type of lesions were also recorded in liver and gizzard. Invasion of fungal hyphae at the peri-bronchiolar and interstitial tissue and haemorrhages were also noticed. On the 5th day post incubation, there were presence of blackish green colonies in the SDA plates.