×
Aspergillosis
Mainly caused by the fungal agent Aspergillus fumigatus, which is ubiquitous in the environment.
Disease occurs when birds are exposed to high levels of spores or the immune system of the bird is compromised due to stress or infected with other diseases.
Symptoms
- Poor performance.
- Weight loss.
- Difficulty/laboured breathing.
Diagnosis
- Post-mortem findings.
- Culture of the aspergillus fungus from an affected body tissue.
- Histology of the affected tissues (usually the air sacs and lungs).
Treatment
- Recovery of infected birds is slow and often unsuccessful despite treatment so return to racing fitness is unlikely.
- Antifungal treatment in pigeons will not be licensed but can be attempted on veterinary advice where deemed necessary.
Prevention and Control
- Monitor and address any diseases that may cause immunosuppression or stress in pigeons.
- Check the loft for good ventilation. As a rule, if there is an excessive amount of dust/cobwebs or condensation in the mornings within the lofts there will be insufficient air flow. However, beware creating a draft.
- Clean and disinfect the loft regularly to reduce the levels of spores in the environment.