Pathological alterations in goats intravenously infected with Aspergillus fumigatus

Intravenous inoculation of goats with Aspergillus fumigatus spores resulted in the development of generalized aspergillosis. Lesions were consistently seen in the lungs, kidneys and heart and occasionally in the liver, spleen , abomasum and mediastinal lymphnodes. The experiment was continued for 11 days. Gross changes included congestion, oedema and haemorrhages in the fir st 3 days followed by the development of greyish-white nodules in the lungs , heart and kidneys. Microscopic changes consisted of necrotic foci, absces ses and thrombosis of the blood vessels invaded by the hyphae of A. fumigat us. By 9 day alter infection, the lesions in the lungs became granulomatous . The fungus was consistently isolated from the lesions in lungs, kidneys a nd heart up to 11 days. An increase in total immunoglobulins in serum was a lso recorded.