ASPERGILLOSIS IN AN OSTRICH

A 4-month-old sexually intact blue-neck ostrich was examined because o f chronic respiratory tract disease and poor performance. The bird was coughing and dyspneic on physical examination. Thoracic radiographs w ere consistent with air sacculitis. Bronchoscopy was used to view and to biopsy plaques within the bronchus and lower airways. Aspergillus s pp was identified in culture and in biopsy specimens examined microsco pically. Aspergillosis was confirmed on postmortem examination. Bronch oscopy may aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.