MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Case Report: Aspergillosis and Cyathostoma americana co-infection in the lower respiratory tract of a Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Summary

A 12-year-old Harris’s Hawk died from a rare combination of two serious infections affecting its lungs and air sacs: a fungal infection (Aspergillus fumigatus) and a parasitic worm infection (Cyathostoma americana). This is the first documented case of these two infections occurring together in a hawk. The worms and fungus caused severe inflammation and tissue damage, ultimately leading to the bird’s death. This case highlights how multiple infections can work together to make disease more severe in captive birds of prey.

Background

Respiratory tract infections in avian species are frequently caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and nematode infestations, particularly syngamids. While aspergillosis and parasitic infections are separately documented in raptors, documented cases of significant co-infections remain rare.

Objective

To describe and analyze a case of concurrent Aspergillus fumigatus and Cyathostoma americana infection in a Harris’s Hawk, documenting the pathological changes and clinical significance of this dual infection.

Results

A 12-year-old female Harris’s Hawk presented with dyspnea and was found at necropsy to have over 30 adult syngamid worms in the lower respiratory tract along with extensive granulomatous airsacculitis, serositis, and pneumonia. Mycological analysis confirmed Aspergillus fumigatus infection with innumerable fungal hyphae, conidial heads, and free conidia. Molecular analysis identified Cyathostoma americana in both large and small worms, and Porrocaecum moraveci in the small intestine.

Conclusion

This case represents the first documented clinically significant co-infection of Aspergillus fumigatus with Cyathostoma americana in a raptor and the first prominent Cyathostoma americana infection in a Harris’s Hawk, highlighting the importance of managing parasitic and fungal infections in captive raptors and the potential synergistic effects of multiple pathogens.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Veterinary Science,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 41234398, DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1680843
Scroll to Top