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MATSUMOTO N, ITOH M, TOYOTOME T, HAGINO K, NEO S, YAMADA K. Usefulness of combining computed tomography and air sac fluid examination to rule out aspergillosis: case study in two gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) with respiratory clinical signs. J Vet Med Sci 2024; 86:285-289. [PMID: 38233131 PMCID: PMC10963096 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary aspergillosis occurring in captive penguins living in zoos and aquariums is a fatal disease owing to its high mortality rate. On conducting computed tomography, two gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) with respiratory clinical signs that were housed at an aquarium in Hokkaido, Japan were found to have a certain amount of fluid in their air sacs. This fluid was collected and cultured for bacteria and fungi, the results of which both came back negative. These results enabled us to rule out bacterial infection or aspergillosis and supported our decision not to administer antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Overall, the combination of computed tomography and air sac fluid examination was useful for ruling out bacterial infection or aspergillosis in penguins with respiratory clinical signs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megumi ITOH
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takahito TOYOTOME
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Itoh M, Matsumoto N, Hagino K, Sawayama N, Kuwayama M, Yamada K, Toyotome T. Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1913. [PMID: 37370423 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We surveyed the facilities that were members of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums to clarify the incidence of aspergillosis, which is a major cause of death in captive penguins, and to discern effective preventive measures. Responses were obtained for 2910 penguins in 64 facilities; 73 penguins (2.5%) in 35 facilities had died from aspergillosis during the past 5 years from April 2016 to March 2021. Answers to questions about the rearing environment indicated that aspergillosis occurred significantly more often in facilities where penguins were reared outdoors, were in contact with soil, or were moved outside of the rearing enclosure. Answers to questions about their dead penguins indicated that 76% may have been at individual risk (e.g., young age, old age, molting period, and breeding season) and 54% were thought to be reared in uncomfortable environments (e.g., high temperature, high humidity). Aspergillosis may occur when individual risk factors and uncomfortable environmental factors are added to the risk factors of exposure to Aspergillus, such as the presence of soil. These conditions must be recognized as risk factors for aspergillosis, and appropriate preventive measures, such as avoiding penguin contact with the soil where Aspergillus is expected to be present, can minimize aspergillosis-related deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Itoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoya Matsumoto
- Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, Japan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kyogo Hagino
- Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nanako Sawayama
- Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Miki Kuwayama
- Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Yamada
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takahito Toyotome
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
- Diagnostic Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8673, Chiba, Japan
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Thorel M, Mateos-Hernandez L, Mulot B, Azzouni MN, Hodžić A, Gaillot H, Ruel Y, Desoubeaux G, Delaye JB, Obregon D, Wu-Chuang A, de la Fuente J, Bermúdez-Humarán LG, Risco-Castillo V, Leclerc A, Cabezas-Cruz A. Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of an Oral Probiotic-Based Vaccine Against Aspergillus Infection in Captive-Bred Humboldt Penguins ( Spheniscus humboldti). Front Immunol 2022; 13:897223. [PMID: 35634323 PMCID: PMC9137413 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.897223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused mainly by Aspergillus fumigatus that often results in respiratory disease in birds. Aspergillosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in captive-bred penguin species. Currently, there is no registered vaccine to prevent aspergillosis. Recent research demonstrated that oral administration of gram-negative bacteria expressing high levels of galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) modulates anti-α-Gal immunity and protects turkeys from clinical aspergillosis caused by experimental A. fumigatus infection. The role of anti-α-Gal immunity in penguins has not been studied. Here, we tested the distribution of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) genes in the fecal microbiome of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). The occurrence of natural anti-α-Gal antibodies (Abs) in sera and eggs of healthy Humboldt penguins was also assessed. A trial was then conducted to test whether oral administration of Escherichia coli Nissle, expressing high α-Gal levels, modulates anti-α-Gal immunity in a colony of Humboldt penguins. Animals in the vaccination and placebo groups were evaluated before the trial and followed for one year for aspergillosis detection using a diagnostic panel including computed tomography scans, capillary zone electrophoresis, 3-hydroxybutyrate levels, and anti-A. fumigatus Abs. Anti-α-Gal Abs were detected in sera (IgM and IgY) and eggs (IgY) of healthy penguins. Microbiota analysis and functional predictions revealed the presence of α1,3GT genes in the microbiota of Humboldt penguins and other penguin species. A strong decrease in anti-α-Gal IgM levels was observed in all animals in the placebo group three months after vaccination protocol. This decrease was not observed in E. coli Nissle-treated penguins. After the vaccination protocol, we found a positive correlation between anti-E. coli IgY and anti-α-Gal IgY in the E. coli Nissle group, suggesting a correlation between the presence of the bacteria and these Abs. During the study period, three penguins exhibited respiratory signs consistent with aspergillosis. Two were from the placebo group whose symptoms resolved with specific treatments, while a single vaccinated individual developed fatal respiratory aspergillosis eight months after the trial. We conclude that E. coli Nissle represents a safe potential probiotic with a protective effect against aspergillosis in Humboldt penguins that deserves to be further explored for therapeutic uses in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Thorel
- ZooParc de Beauval and Beauval Nature, Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Baptiste Mulot
- ZooParc de Beauval and Beauval Nature, Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, France
| | - Mouna Naila Azzouni
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hugues Gaillot
- ADVETIA Veterinary Hospital Center, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
| | - Yannick Ruel
- ADVETIA Veterinary Hospital Center, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
| | - Guillaume Desoubeaux
- CHU de Tours, Service de Parasitologie, Mycologie, Médecine Tropicale, Tours, France
- Université de Tours, Inserm U1100 – Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, Faculté de Médecine, Tours, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Delaye
- CHU de Tours, Pôle de Biologie médicale, Laboratoire de Médecine Nucléaire In Vitro – Centre Régional de Dépistage Néonatal, Tours, France
| | - Dasiel Obregon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | | | - Veronica Risco-Castillo
- EA 7380 Dynamyc, UPEC, USC, ANSES, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Antoine Leclerc
- ZooParc de Beauval and Beauval Nature, Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Matsumoto N, Sawayama N, Itoh M, Toyotome T, Yamada K. Evaluation of the air sac volume of penguins with respiratory diseases using computed tomography. J Vet Med Sci 2022; 84:368-372. [PMID: 35046242 PMCID: PMC8983295 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive penguins with respiratory diseases exhibit advanced pathological conditions upon the appearance of clinical signs. Therefore, the successful treatment of respiratory diseases
remains difficult after the onset of clinical signs, leading to high mortality rates. In this study, we measured air sac volume using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the respiratory
condition of penguins. In a regular quarterly health checkup, blood samples were collected from 45 penguins housed at an aquarium in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 12 penguins with abnormal
blood parameters underwent CT. The air sac volumes were calculated in three-dimensional CT, and the scatter plots of the air sac volumes and body weights were analyzed. No correlation was
found between the air sac volume and body weight in both the gentoo and king penguins. Two gentoo penguins with infiltration and one king penguin with multiple nodules on CT were tentatively
diagnosed with aspergillosis and treated with oral administration of itraconazole. Follow-up CT examination was performed until the outcome: healed or died. The mean air sac volumes of the
two gentoo penguins, which recovered after treatment, increased from 273.9 and 329.0 cm3 before healing to 449.0 and 424.6 cm3 after healing, respectively. Meanwhile,
the air sac volume of the king penguin, which subsequently died, decreased from 1,556.9 to 920.6 cm3 despite treatment. Changes of the air sac volume in the same individual could
be useful for evaluating the respiratory condition of penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megumi Itoh
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
| | - Takahito Toyotome
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.,Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University
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Toyotome T, Matsumoto N, Itoh M, Yamada K. Countermeasures Against Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins. Med Mycol J 2022; 63:49-52. [DOI: 10.3314/mmj.22.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Toyotome
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
| | | | - Megumi Itoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
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