Grading of Anatomopathological Disparity in the Cases of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in wild avian species as recorded in Pigeons (Columba livia), Peafowls (Pavo cristatus), and Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus)

Aspergillosis which is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal pathogen, can vary from a localized infection to severe life-threatening invasive or disseminated systemic diseases in birds. The present study aimed to evaluate and grade the anatomopathological disparity in the cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in Columba livia (pigeons), Pavo cristatus (peafowls), and Gyps fulvus (Griffon vultures). Necropsy gross lesions varied from mere congestion of lungs in P. cristatus, congestion and large necrotizing masses surrounded by a zone of hyperemia (10 mm dia) in lungs of C. livia, and typically disseminated granuloma in the lungs, air sacs, and organs of other serous membranes in G. fulvus. Histopathology varied from extensive parenchymal necrosis amidst exuberant fungal invasion in P. cristatus, multifocal to focally extensive tissue necrosis with colonies of fungal hyphae surrounded by heterophils and lymphocytes in C. livia, as well as typical mycotic granuloma embedded in the lungs, air sacs, and thoracoabdominal serous membranes with angio-invasion in G. fulvus. Based on gross and histopathological findings, we diagnosed the cases as Acute Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (AIPA) in peafowls and pigeons, as well as Chronic Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CIPA) in Griffon vultures. There is a paucity of case reports on aspergillosis in wild avian species, and this report strived to document the cases of IPA in peafowls, pigeons, and vultures. This is the first report of its kind which evaluated anatomopathological disparity of IPA in pigeons, peafowls, and vultures with a proposed anatomopathological grading system which would help to understand and investigate the nature of aspergillosis in different avian hosts.