Designing a treatment protocol with voriconazole to eliminate Aspergillus fumigatus from experimentally inoculated pigeons.
To investigate the efficacy of voriconazole for the treatment of aspergillosis, three groups of six racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were inoculated in the apical part of the right lung with 2x10(7) conidia of an avian derived Aspergillus fumigatus strain. The minimal inhibitory concentration of voriconazole for this strain was 0.25 microg/ml. In two groups, voriconazole treatment was started upon appearance of the first clinical signs and continued for fourteen days. The third group was sham treated. The voriconazole-treated pigeons received voriconazole orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) q12h (group 1) or 20 mg/kg BW q24h (group 2). Sixteen days post-inoculation all surviving pigeons were euthanized. Weight loss, clinical scores, daily mortality, lesions at necropsy and isolation of A. fumigatus were compared between all groups. In both voriconazole-treated groups, a significant reduction in clinical signs and lesions was observed. Administering voriconazole at 10 mg/kg BW q12h eliminated A. fumigatus and administering voriconazole at 20 mg/kg BW q24h reduced A. fumigatus isolation rates. Mild histological liver abnormalities were found in group 1 (10 mg/kg BW q12h), while mild histological as well as macroscopic liver abnormalities were found in group 2 (20 mg/kg BW q24h). In conclusion, voriconazole at 10 mg/kg BW q12h in pigeons reduces clinical signs and eliminates A. fumigatus in racing pigeons experimentally infected with A. fumigatus.
Beernaert
Lies A
LA
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Lies.Beernaert@UGent.be
Pasmans
Frank
F
Baert
Kris
K
Van Waeyenberghe
Lieven
L
Chiers
Koen
K
Haesebrouck
Freddy
F
Martel
An
A
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010856:Columbidae; D055744:Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole