Avian Medicine Q&A 14
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This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Avian Medicine questions |
When opening the air cell of a suspected dead Canada goose egg, you encounter the situation shown above.
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| What is the aetiological agent that produces the pathology seen in this egg? | The figure shows a fungal infection growing in the air cell of the membrane.
The most common aetiological agents producing such growth are Aspergillus sp., typically A. fumigatus but occasionally A. flavus. |
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| In addition to the lesion pictured, what are the other signs of this particular causative agent found in embryos or newly hatched birds? | Embryos may die before hatching or be weak and dyspnoeic after hatching.
Occasionally, nervous system problems or diarrhoea are found in birds that survive to hatch. Post-mortem findings include bronchial or tracheal plugs, air cell plaques or small yellow nodules in the lungs. |
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| What is required for positive diagnosis? | Cultures of lesions on the air cell membrane, lungs, air sacs or air passages are collected for positive identification.
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| What are recommended treatments and preventive measures for this problem? | There is currently no recommended treatment for eggs infected with aspergillosis; efforts should be concentrated on prevention.
Aspergillosis can be a serious problem in forced-air incubators. Always clean and fumigate incubators and hatchers between batches of eggs and operate an ‘all in, all out’ policy. Eggs should be examined – weighed; candled; examined for cracks – at regular intervals. Dead eggs should be removed at once as contamination of viable eggs by dead Aspergillus-infected eggs can occur. Eggs from damp or wet nests should not be incubated. UV sterilization of eggs may be used prior to incubation, as may sanitizing dips or washes. |
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