ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS KERATITIS WITH INTRAOCULAR INVASION IN 15-DAY-OLD CHICKS

Eye infections were initially observed in single-comb white leghorn br eeder chicks at 5 days of age, and morbidity increased from 0.05% to 1 .5% after debeaking at 7 days of age. All chicks necropsied at 15 days of age had cheesy yellow exudate within the conjunctival sac of one e ye and small (1 mm diameter) white nodular lesions in lungs and on tho racic air-sac membranes. Histopathologic examination of the eyes revea led septate fungal hyphae and inflammatory cells in the anterior chamb er, cornea, and conjunctival sac. Similar fungal hyphae were present w ithin lung granulomas. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the eye s. Eye infections were the only health problem reported for several co nsecutive flocks on this farm. Elimination of moldy feed from the diet and environment and proper management of sawdust litter have prevente d fungal ophthalmitis in subsequent flocks.