Fungus species isolated from commercial hatcheries in Alabama

Selected locations (incubators, incubator rooms, hatchers, hatcher rooms, chick pools, and egg rooms) in six commercial broiler hatcheries in Alabama were sampled for fungus species over a 12-month period (May 1977-April 1978) by open-plate techniques (cornmeal agar or Sabouraud's dextrose agar). Colonies at each location were counted at 24, 48, and 72-120 hours postexposure. Thirty-five species representing 21 genera were identified. The most prevalent genera were Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Geotrichum, and Fusarium. Aspergillus fumigatus was associated with clinical disease in the baby chick on several occasions, and Cladosporium cladosporioides was the most prevalent species isolated. In general, isolations increased in early spring and summer.