Anatomopathological aspects of avian aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is a fungal disease caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, in particular A. fumigatus and A. flavus. This paper focuses on anatomopathological aspects resulting from a chronic infection from Aspergillus spp in the chicken (Gallus domesticus), in the herring gull (Larus cachinnans micaelli) and in the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa rufa). Microscopically, we observed some histological lesions that are related to the two typical forms of Aspergillosis: a deep nodular form, typical of organs with a non-aerated parenchyma, and a non-encapsulated superficial diffuse form typical of the serosae and the lung. The observed forms of aspergillosis have been found in animals raised in poor hygienic environmental conditions or malnourished animals (chicken); in wild birds from wildlife recovery centres (herring gull), which underwent some forms of stress, such as traumas, detention, starvation, extended antibiotic treatments; in game birds (red-legged partridge) used for restocking natural areas that had been negatively affected by such stressors as captivity in aviaries, containment and transport in cages, release in unsuitable environments and malnutrition. The observed anatomopathological and istopathological aspects can therefore be regarded as the outcome of a number of factors that have reduced the typical resistance of the species and impaired the efficiency of their immune systems.     

The Effects of Ovine Lentivirus Infection on Some Productive Aspects in a Sardinian Sheep Flock from Italy

The effects of ovine lentivirus infection on the fat, protein and lactose concentrations on the somatic cell counts in ewes' milk, on milk production and on the birth weight and growth of lambs were studied in a flock of Sardinian sheep from central Italy. Data on 61 lactations of ewes positive to both the agar-gel immunodiffusion test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were compared with those on 46 lactations of seronegative ewes. Confounders such as parity, age, lactation length, litter size, and the sex of the lambs were considered. None of these traits seemed to be negatively influenced by the infection