[Pathologico-anatomic and mycotoxicologic studies of aspergillosis in birds]

4.0% of all birds (n = 11249) examined post mortem at the Institute of Avian Diseases, Oberschleissheim, showed fungal infections of the respiratory tract. Clinical and histopathological findings to date have suggested toxin production in Aspergillus fumigatus infections. To obtain detailed information, preselected tissues from the lungs and air sacs (n = 17) were examined by culture and fluorescence microscopy. In 12 cases gliotoxin (0.1-0.45 mg/kg) was found in the A. fumigatus infected tissues. The importance of gliotoxin, which showed strong cytotoxic effects in cell cultures, is discussed.