Aspergillosis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by the genus of fungi Aspergillus. The most common forms are allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis. Compromised immune systems often allow Aspergillus to colonize.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Aspergillosis has been the culprit in several recent rapid die-offs among waterfowl. From December 8-14, 2006 over 2,000 Mallards died in the Burley, Idaho area, an agricultural community approximately 150 miles southeast of Boise. Moldy waste grain from the farmland and feedlots in the area is the suspected source. A similar aspergillosis outbreak killed 500 mallards in Iowa in 2005. Moldy grain was the cause in that case.
Causes
Aspergillus is common in the environment, so most people breathe in the fungal spores every day. It is probably impossible to completely avoid breathing in some Aspergillus spores. For people with healthy immune systems, this does not cause harm, and the immune system is able to get rid of the spores. But for people with weakened immune systems, breathing in Aspergillus spores can lead to infection. Studies have shown that invasive aspergillosis can occur during building renovation or construction. Outbreaks of Aspergillus skin infections have been traced to contaminated biomedical devices. Aspergillosis cannot be spread from person to person or between people and animals. [1]
Risk Factors
Persons with a compromised immune system are at highest risk for developing a fungal infection like aspergillosis. In rare cases, a person with a normal immune system can also become infected.