Antemortem diagnosis combining computed tomography and air sac fluid aspiration for aspergillosis: a case report in a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)

Abstract

Pulmonary aspergillosis is a fatal disease with high mortality in captive penguins in zoos and aquariums; however, antemortem identification of Aspergillus spp. remains challenging. A gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) exhibiting respiratory clinical signs showed fluid accumulation in the interclavicular air sac on computed tomography (CT). The fluid was aspirated via puncture using a sterile needle in the prone position, as during CT. The fluid sample was positive for A. fumigatus in fungal culture. After the penguin died, infection of A. fumigatus was confirmed in the air sac fluid collected postmortem pathological examination. These findings suggest that combining computed tomography and air sac aspiration is a promising approach for the antemortem diagnosis of aspergillosis in penguins.