A total of 100 suspected chicken lung tissues and 80 environmental samples including litter, feed, water and air (20 samples of each) were collected from different private chicken farms at kalyoubia Governorate, Moreover 30 sputum and 30 blood serum samples were collected from occupationally human contacts with these farms and with chronic respiratory disease. All samples except serum were examined mycologically but serum samples were serologically examined by ELISA. The percentage of Aspergillus species was 24%,55%,55%,10%,50 % and 23.3% in lung tissues, feed, litter, water, air and human sputum respectively. Almost all Aspergillus species isolated from lung tissues of chickens were also recovered from environmental samples and human sputum samples but Aspergillus fumigatus was the predominant and the most pathogenic fungus isolated from all samples followed by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. The occurrence of infection was high in hot and humid seasons and was considerably high in chickens reared on saw dust litter as compared to rice husk litter. Regarding to human beings,Aspergilli were isolated from all age groups but the majority of infection exists among the 20-40 years group (26.7%) but it was nearly equal in both males (23.5%) and females (23.1%) and higher in farm workers (29.4%) than in farm owners and veterinarians. Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in sputum samples with 13.3% but in blood serum samples by using ELISA IgG, it was 10%. The zoonotic importance of Aspergillosis as occupationally disease among poultry farm workers as well as the suggested hygienic measures were discussed to decrease its transmission to humans. |
