Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan
We surveyed the facilities that were members of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums to clarify the incidence of aspergillosis, which is a major cause of death in captive penguins, and to discern effective preventive measures. Responses were obtained for 2910 penguins in 64 facilities; 73 pen...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/1913 |
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| author | Megumi Itoh Naoya Matsumoto Kyogo Hagino Nanako Sawayama Miki Kuwayama Kazutaka Yamada Takahito Toyotome |
| author_facet | Megumi Itoh Naoya Matsumoto Kyogo Hagino Nanako Sawayama Miki Kuwayama Kazutaka Yamada Takahito Toyotome |
| author_sort | Megumi Itoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We surveyed the facilities that were members of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums to clarify the incidence of aspergillosis, which is a major cause of death in captive penguins, and to discern effective preventive measures. Responses were obtained for 2910 penguins in 64 facilities; 73 penguins (2.5%) in 35 facilities had died from aspergillosis during the past 5 years from April 2016 to March 2021. Answers to questions about the rearing environment indicated that aspergillosis occurred significantly more often in facilities where penguins were reared outdoors, were in contact with soil, or were moved outside of the rearing enclosure. Answers to questions about their dead penguins indicated that 76% may have been at individual risk (e.g., young age, old age, molting period, and breeding season) and 54% were thought to be reared in uncomfortable environments (e.g., high temperature, high humidity). Aspergillosis may occur when individual risk factors and uncomfortable environmental factors are added to the risk factors of exposure to <i>Aspergillus</i>, such as the presence of soil. These conditions must be recognized as risk factors for aspergillosis, and appropriate preventive measures, such as avoiding penguin contact with the soil where <i>Aspergillus</i> is expected to be present, can minimize aspergillosis-related deaths. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:51:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d55c3e381a741c39dfe330aafeca316 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:51:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d55c3e381a741c39dfe330aafeca3162023-11-18T08:57:59ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-06-011312191310.3390/ani13121913Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in JapanMegumi Itoh0Naoya Matsumoto1Kyogo Hagino2Nanako Sawayama3Miki Kuwayama4Kazutaka Yamada5Takahito Toyotome6Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, JapanNoboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, JapanNoboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, JapanNoboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, JapanNoboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu 059-0492, Hokkaido, JapanSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, JapanWe surveyed the facilities that were members of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums to clarify the incidence of aspergillosis, which is a major cause of death in captive penguins, and to discern effective preventive measures. Responses were obtained for 2910 penguins in 64 facilities; 73 penguins (2.5%) in 35 facilities had died from aspergillosis during the past 5 years from April 2016 to March 2021. Answers to questions about the rearing environment indicated that aspergillosis occurred significantly more often in facilities where penguins were reared outdoors, were in contact with soil, or were moved outside of the rearing enclosure. Answers to questions about their dead penguins indicated that 76% may have been at individual risk (e.g., young age, old age, molting period, and breeding season) and 54% were thought to be reared in uncomfortable environments (e.g., high temperature, high humidity). Aspergillosis may occur when individual risk factors and uncomfortable environmental factors are added to the risk factors of exposure to <i>Aspergillus</i>, such as the presence of soil. These conditions must be recognized as risk factors for aspergillosis, and appropriate preventive measures, such as avoiding penguin contact with the soil where <i>Aspergillus</i> is expected to be present, can minimize aspergillosis-related deaths.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/1913aspergillosisJapan Association of Zoos and Aquariumspenguinsoilsurvey |
| spellingShingle | Megumi Itoh Naoya Matsumoto Kyogo Hagino Nanako Sawayama Miki Kuwayama Kazutaka Yamada Takahito Toyotome Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan Animals aspergillosis Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums penguin soil survey |
| title | Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan |
| title_full | Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan |
| title_short | Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan |
| title_sort | nationwide survey about the occurrence of aspergillosis in captive penguins in zoos and aquariums in japan |
| topic | aspergillosis Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums penguin soil survey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/1913 |
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