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

Eye infections were initially observed in single-comb white leghorn breeder 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 eye and small (1 mm diameter) white nodular lesions in lungs and on thoracic air-sac membranes. Histopathologic examination of the eyes revealed septate fungal hyphae and inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber, cornea, and conjunctival sac. Similar fungal hyphae were present within lung granulomas. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the eyes. Eye infections were the only health problem reported for several consecutive flocks on this farm. Elimination of moldy feed from the diet and environment and proper management of sawdust litter have prevented fungal ophthalmitis in subsequent flocks.