Risk Factors of Renal Aspergillosis in Pigeons (Columba livia): Field Study

Abstract

Aspergillosis is the common infectious diseases in the avian species. Aspergillosis causes granulomatous lesions in the lung and upper respiratory system and rarely reported regarding its infection in the kidney. This study aims to analyse the risk factors of renal aspergillosis in the pigeon (Columba livia) and its association to aflatoxicosis and CD4+/ CD8+ depression. Twenty-dead pigeons, feed and litter randomly collected from 10-local breeders. Each breeder was asked to fill out the questionnaire. Microbiology, immuno-histopathology and detection of aflatoxin were performed on the collected specimens. The data was analysed using SPSS 16. The results revealed that the prevalence of Aspergillus belonging to the “Fumigati section” was 85% and 80% in lungs and kidneys, respectively. Moreover, the hyphae and granulomatous inflammation with minimal expression of CD4+/CD8+ are observed from pigeons kidney. This study reflected that contamination of Aspergillus belonging to the “Fumigati section” in the litter and air significantly affect the occurrence of pigeon's renal aspergillosis.