A three-year study of viable airborne fungi in the North Carolina Zoological Park RJR Nabisco Rocky Coast Alcid Exhibit

Aspergillosis is a common cause of mortality in captive birds, particularly in recently imported birds or captive chicks and their parents. Use of the Andersen N-6 single-stage viable air sampler in the North Carolina Zoologi cal Park (NCZP) R.J.R. Nabisco Rocky Coast Alcid Exhibit before and after t he introduction of birds allowed a unique study of the mycological content of the air in a developing self-contained ecosystem. The Alcid Exhibit had a median count of 17 colony-forming-units (CFU)/m(3) of air in comparison t o 300-500 CFU/m(3) and 1,000-3,500 CFU/m(3) reported in human dwellings and the NCZP R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary, respectively Cladosporium and Penici llium represented 21.3% and Aspergillus 1.08% of the fungi collected. Durin g the study, no respiratory mycoses were reported in any of the alcids. Con tinuous high-efficiency particulate air filtration, maintenance of low exhi bit air temperatures, and an environment with little residual organic mater ial capable of supporting fungal growth were important factors contributing to low colony counts. All colony counts >100 CFU/m(3) in the exhibit were related to the apparent introduction of fungi from outside the facility. A reduction in the number of fungi transported from an external source into e nclosed cool-temperature aviaries may be sufficient to avoid outbreaks of a spergillosis.