Outbreak of Respiratory Aspergillosis in Backyard Duck Flock in Tunisia

Khaled Kaboudi; Ahmed Rejeb; Moncef Bouzouaia; Muhammad Tanveer Munir; Sajid Umar

Authors

Khaled Kaboudi Department of Poultry Farming and Pathology, National Veterinary School of Tunisia, 2020 Sidi Thabet (Ariana), TUNISIA
Ahmed Rejeb Department of Pathological Anatomy and Histology – National Veterinary School of Tunisia, 2020 Sidi Thabet (Ariana), TUNISIA
Moncef Bouzouaia Department of Poultry Farming and Pathology, National Veterinary School of Tunisia, 2020 Sidi Thabet (Ariana), TUNISIA
Muhammad Tanveer Munir Nantes Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering (ONIRIS), 44300 Nantes, FRANCE
Sajid Umar National Veterinary School of Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31 076, Toulouse Cedex 3, FRANCE

Keywords:

Aspergillosis, Duck, Histopathology, Tunisia

Abstract

Aspergillosis is one of the most frequent mycosis affecting avian species. Here, we report an outbreak of aspergillosis in a backyard flock of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), aged between 4 wks to 1 year with respiratory signs as dyspnea, gasping and nasal discharge, and up to 14.28% mortality. At necropsy, congested lungs, exudative trachea-bronchitis, airsacculitis and extensive multifocal granulomatous pneumonia were recorded. Histopathology examination revealed chronic multifocal mycotic granulomatous pneumonia. Aspergillus fumigatus was identified by microbiologic study from air sacs and lungs of all autopsied animals. Farm floor was disinfected and bedding material was changed followed by treatment of ducks with copper sulphate (1 g/5 liters) in drinking water fortnightly for two months. Clinical signs and mortality were abided after two months.