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Aspergillosis is a disease of the respiratory system caused by several [[Aspergillus]] spp. A. fumigatus is the most frequently reported species in domestic animals. Commonly affected species include birds, dogs, cats, horses and cattle but the disease has been reported in many other wild and domestic species.
 
Aspergillosis is a disease of the respiratory system caused by several [[Aspergillus]] spp. A. fumigatus is the most frequently reported species in domestic animals. Commonly affected species include birds, dogs, cats, horses and cattle but the disease has been reported in many other wild and domestic species.
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==Clinical signs==
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==Clinical signs and features==
    
===Birds===
 
===Birds===
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In the horse the guttural pouches are most commonly affected. Aspergillus infection may also lead to abortion.
 
In the horse the guttural pouches are most commonly affected. Aspergillus infection may also lead to abortion.
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===Dogs, cats and sheep===
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===Dogs===
Infections occur, but infrequently in these animals. The lungs and nasal cavity are most commonly affected. Dogs
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Aspergillosis is a common cause of nasal disease in dogs. Young to middle aged male dogs are most commmonly affected but animals of all age and of both sexes may be affected. The disease is usually localised to the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity but a disseminated form with granulomas and infarcts has been reported in dogs. Pulmonary and intersitital forms may also occur in cats.
**Disseminated form with granulomas and infarcts can occur in dogs
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**Pulmonary and intersitital forms can occur in cats
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{| align="right"
 
{| align="right"
 
|<gallery>Image:Aspergillus in vivo.jpg|<center><p>'''Aspergillus in vivo'''</p><sup>Copyright Professor Andrew N. Rycroft, BSc, PHD, C. Biol.F.I.Biol., FRCPath</sup></center></gallery>
 
|<gallery>Image:Aspergillus in vivo.jpg|<center><p>'''Aspergillus in vivo'''</p><sup>Copyright Professor Andrew N. Rycroft, BSc, PHD, C. Biol.F.I.Biol., FRCPath</sup></center></gallery>
 
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|}
*Humans:
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==Diagnosis==
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*Grows on Sabauraud's Dextrose and Blood agar
 
*Grows on Sabauraud's Dextrose and Blood agar
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[[Image:Aspergillus pneumonia of cattle.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Aspergillus hyphae in cattle lung (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
 
[[Image:Aspergillus pneumonia of cattle.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Aspergillus hyphae in cattle lung (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
 
[[Image:Aspergillosis in nasal cavity.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Nasal aspergillosis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
 
[[Image:Aspergillosis in nasal cavity.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Nasal aspergillosis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
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*[[Aspergillus spp.|''Aspergillus fumigatus'']]
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*Most commonly in dogs but also other species
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*Causes [[Nasal Cavity Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of rhinitis|rhinitis]], often also involves the [[Paranasal Sinuses Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of sinusitis|frontal sinus]]
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*Chronic necrotising inflammation with friable exudate containing necrotic tissue and fungal hyphae
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* Result in severe neutrophilic [[Nasal Cavity Inflammatory - Pathology|rhinitis]]/[[Paranasal Sinuses Inflammatory - Pathology|sinusitis]]
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*These lesions can be aggressive causing destruction of turbinates and nasal septum
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*Can occur secondary to areas of mucosal compromise eg: adjacent to a space-occupying lesion
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*Can cause pulmonary aspergillosis especially in '''birds''', but also other animals
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**Initiated by inhalation of spores,the most likely source of which is mouldy feed and bedding
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**Given the wide exposure that occurs, it is thought that immunodeficiency may contribute to colonisation with this organism
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**Gross lesions :
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***Multiple discrete grey/ white nodules which develop around fungal colonies
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***Blood vessels can become involved in the lesions -> invasion, haemorrhage or thrombosis
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**Histologically:
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***Granulomatous chronic lesions
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***Macrophages and epithelioid cells
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***Fibrous capsule
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*In horses:
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**[[Nasal Cavity Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of rhinitis|Nasal aspergillosis]]
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**[[Guttural Pouches Inflammatory - Pathology|Guttural pouch infections]] in horses - fungal plaques form on the adventitia of the carotid arteries can lead to catastrophic haemorrhage following erosion of carotid arteries!
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**Often present with [[Respiratory System Clinical Signs - Pathology#Epistaxis|epistaxis]]
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**May present with neurological dysfunction
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**Rarely extends to other resions: cranium, middle ear, atlanto-occipital joint
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**May extend to [[Paranasal Sinuses Inflammatory - Pathology#Infectious causes of sinusitis|sinuses]]
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