Aspergillosis in Avian and Mammalian Species

Aspergillosis is a fungal disease primarily caused by the inhalation of airborne spores of Aspergillus species, notably Aspergillus fumigatus. In both birds and mammals, exposure to high environmental loads of conidia may overwhelm host defences, leading to a spectrum of illness from acute respiratory distress to chronic, granulomatous lesions. Avian species, particularly those in intensive production, zoological collections and rehabilitation facilities, display heightened susceptibility due to unique respiratory anatomy, stress and confinement. In mammals, immunocompromised individuals—whether by underlying disease, immunosuppressive therapy or co-infection—are at greatest risk of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which carries high mortality in equids and companion animals. Emerging concerns include the development of resistance to azole fungicides, driven by environmental selection pressure, and the role of wildlife as sentinels and reservoirs for resistant strains. Diagnostic approaches combine clinical imaging, culture, antigen detection and molecular assays, yet standardisation across species remains under development. Management relies on environmental control, systemic antifungal therapy and, in select cases, surgical intervention. This One Health challenge underscores the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to mitigate disease impact, safeguard animal welfare and address potential zoonotic issues.

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Aspergillosis in Avian and Mammalian Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in aspergillosis in avian and mammalian species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Aspergillus fumigatus: A ubiquitous mould species and the primary causative agent of aspergillosis in animals and humans.

Conidia: Asexual spores of Aspergillus that become airborne and can be inhaled to initiate infection.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA): A severe form of aspergillosis characterised by fungal invasion of lung tissue, often fatal if untreated.

Azole resistance: The ability of Aspergillus strains to survive exposure to azole antifungals, commonly due to mutations in the cyp51A gene.

Granulomatous lesion: A focal inflammatory response featuring activated macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, typical of chronic aspergillosis.

References

1. Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Humboldt Penguins—Susceptibility Patterns and Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Environmental Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from a Belgian Zoo, 2017–2022. Antibiotics (2023).
2. Diagnosis of Aspergillosis in Horses. Journal of Fungi (2023).
3. Aspergillosis, Avian Species and the One Health Perspective: The Possible Importance of Birds in Azole Resistance. Microorganisms (2020).
4. A single fungal strain was the unexpected cause of a mass aspergillosis outbreak in the world’s largest and only flightless parrot. iScience (2022).