Evaluation of Plasma (1→3) β-D-glucan Concentrations in Birds Naturally and Experimentally Infected with Aspergillus fumigatus

摘要: SUMMARY. Avian aspergillosis, most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is a common and devastating disease affecting range of bird species. Early diagnosis difficult unreliable. The current study evaluated the utility measuring (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BG) concentrations in avian plasma samples to aid aspergillosis. We commercially available BG assay (Fungitell®, Beacon Diagnostics) using 178 from naturally infected, experimentally aspergillosis-free birds. Although there was variation concentration, as reflected high standard deviations, seabirds with confirmed aspergillosis had highest mean (M  =  3098.7 pg/dl, SD 5022.6, n 22) followed companion species raptors  = 1033.8 pg/dl, 1531.6, 19) infected Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica; M 1066.5 pg/dl, 1348.2, 17). Variation severity disease, dif...