AUTHOR=Galosi Livio , Falcaro Christian , Danesi Patrizia , Zanardello Claudia , Berardi Sara , Biagini Lucia , Attili Anna-Rita , Rossi Giacomo 

TITLE=Atypical Mycosis in Psittacine Birds: A Retrospective Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.883276

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.883276

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=A retrospective study was conducted on parrots submitted from necropsy to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary, University of Camerino, Italy, from 2007 to 2018, with the histological diagnosis of atypical mycosis. Four cases were selected for determination of the fungus species by PCR: a Fischer’s lovebird (Agapornis fischeri), a Peach-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and two Blue and Gold macaws (Ara ararauna) from four different aviaries, dead after some days of lethargy and ruffled feathers. Records of gross necropsy and histopathological exams (H&E, PAS and Grocott stain) were described and biomolecular analysis were carried out. No specific gross lesions were appreciated at necropsy, while histopathology evidenced a systemic mycosis in several organs, particularly in lungs. In affected organs, broad and non-septate hyphae, suggestive of mycoses, were observed. Molecularly, Mucor racemosus (Fischer’s lovebird) and Mucor circinelloides (Peach-faced lovebirds) were identified from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung and liver tissue. In addition, Alternaria alternata and Fusicladium spp. (respectively in male and female Blue and Gold macaws) were identified in FFPE tissue from several organs. Whereas the role of Mucor as true pathogens is well demonstrated, the behavior of Alternaria alternata and Fusicladium spp. in macaws as opportunistic pathogens has been discussed. To our knowledge, this report is the first one reporting Zygomycosis caused by M. racemosus and M. circinelloides in lovebirds, and Alternaria alternata and Fusicladium spp. in macaws.