Aspergilozy u dzikich ptaków. Część I. Etiologia, prewalencja i predyspozycje

Aspergillosis holds a special place in veterinary and human medicine, as it is the major type systemic mycosis affecting both, birds and mammals. The Aves class is mainly affected, due to the great diversity of species susceptible to this infection, including domestic and wild animals living in captivity or in natural environments. Fungi, belonging to the genus Aspergillus, are able to grow abundantly on organic substrates. When inhaled, their spores can cause serious and often fatal infections in a wide variety of captive and free-roaming, wild birds. Aspergillosis in wild avifauna has been reported on all continents with the exception of Antarctica. Only a small percentage, of the approximately 340 described Aspergillus species, is implicated in the development of avian aspergillosis. Aspergillus fumigatus is, by far, the most prevalent species, representing up to 95% of clinical cases in both wild and domestic avifauna. The aim of this article is to synthesize the current knowledge related to aspergillosis in wild birdlife. In the first part of the literature review, the ecology of Aspergillus fungi, their host range, the prevalence of infections in wild birds, and factors predisposing to disease were characterized.