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

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 in a meat turkey flock, including an unusual case of vertebral 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 .

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.