Aspergillus fumigatus infection of black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus).: Case report

The authors caught and kept under good hygienic conditions 29 1-12 days old black-headed gull nestlings, seemed to be healthy, for feeding and performance-biological experiments. After 3-4 days the animals showed dyspnoeic clinical signs with good appetite and after some days 80% of them died in spite of vitamin treatment. In the lung and on the air sacs tiny greenish-yellow loading were found from which Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured. In the collection area similar clinical signs and death of high proportion was observed among the wild gull. The infection was probably caused by the mouldy straw placed in the gulls' living area for the purpose of weed control.