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=9

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=<p>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. From a total of 2,153 parrots examined at post-mortem, four cases were diagnosed with atypical mycosis and were considered for determination of the fungus species by PCR. A Fischer's lovebird (<italic>Agapornis fischeri</italic>), Peach-faced lovebirds (<italic>Agapornis roseicollis</italic>), and two Blue and Gold Macaws (<italic>Ara ararauna</italic>) from four different aviaries died after some days of lethargy and ruffled feathers. Records of gross necropsy and histopathological exams (H&amp;E, PAS, and Grocott stain) were described and biomolecular analyses were carried out. No specific gross lesions were appreciated at necropsy, while histopathology evidenced a systemic mycosis in several organs, particularly in the lungs. In affected organs, broad and non-septate hyphae, suggestive of mycoses, were observed. Molecularly, <italic>Mucor racemosus</italic> (Fischer's lovebird) and <italic>M. circinelloides</italic> (Peach-faced lovebirds) were identified from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung and liver tissue. In addition, <italic>Alternaria alternata</italic> and <italic>Fusicladium</italic> spp. (respectively in male and female Blue and Gold macaws) were identified in FFPE tissue from several organs; whereas the role of <italic>Mucor</italic> spp. as true pathogens is well-demonstrated, and the behavior of <italic>A. alternata</italic> and <italic>Fusicladium</italic> spp. in macaws as opportunistic pathogens have been discussed. To our knowledge, this report is the first one reporting mucormycosis caused by <italic>M. racemosus</italic> and <italic>M. circinelloides</italic> in lovebirds, and <italic>A. alternata</italic> and <italic>Fusicladium</italic> spp. in macaws.</p>