Multisystemic aspergillosis with unusual vertebral osteomyelitis in a turkey flock in Bordj Bou Arreridj Province, Algeria.

Abstract

Background: Avian aspergillosis is primarily a respiratory disease that can spread to other organs, resulting in systemic aspergillosis.

Aim: This report describes the clinical and pathological features of multisystemic aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in a meat turkey flock, including an unusual case of vertebral Aspergillus osteomyelitis.

Methods: Five affected turkeys were necropsied from a flock size of 1,000 birds. Gross lesions were recorded, and samples from affected organs were sampled for histopathological examination. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Microscopic examination of morphological features was performed to identify the causative agent isolated from fungal cultures on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA).

Results: The affected turkeys exhibited symptoms such as respiratory distress, open-beak breathing, prostration, cyanosis, lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Postmortem examinations revealed whitish-yellow caseous nodules in multiple organs, including the lungs, air sacs, thoracic vertebrae, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, peritoneum, small intestine, proventriculus, gizzard, and kidneys. Histopathological analysis showed granulomas with a necrotic core surrounded by lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and large multinucleated foreign-body giant cells. PAS staining revealed abundant fungal hyphae within the necrotic center. Fungal culture on SDA and subsequent morphological identification confirmed the presence of A. fumigatus.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of thoracic vertebral aspergillosis in turkeys. Future studies are needed to assess the prevalence of this mycosis in Algerian turkey flocks.