Comparison of diagnostic tools for the detection of XXXX in blood samples of experimentally infected falcons.

@entity738 @entity1353 @entity391 @entity2381 @entity54 @entity71884
Antemortem diagnosis of @entity2381 is very challenging. Diagnostic assays using blood samples would aid in an early and more definitive diagnosis. In the current study, detection of anti- @entity54 antibodies, @entity54 antigen, and @entity54 toxin ( @entity71884 ), protein electrophoresis and measurement of acute-phase protein concentrations were performed on serum of 18 adult and plasma of 21 juvenile gyr-saker hybrid falcons (Falco rusticolus x Falco cherrug). Adult (n = 15) and juvenile (n = 18) falcons were experimentally inoculated with different dosages of the same strain of @entity54 and an additional three falcons from each age group were used as uninfected control animals. Blood samples were collected prior to inoculation and at 28 days postinoculation. Of the 33 inoculated falcons, 16 demonstrated clinical signs ( @entity391 , greenish urates, @entity1353 , ruffled feathers) commonly associated with @entity2381 and in 14 falcons necropsy revealed @entity2381 confirmed by mycology and histopathology. Positive galactomannan results were rare, with only 3/15 positive samples from adult falcons and none in the juvenile birds. Most of the inoculated falcons showed an increase of serum amyloid A (66.7%) and haptoglobin (70.4%), but @entity71884 was not detected in the blood from any of the experimental animals. Elevated antibody indices were detected in 96.7% of the inoculated birds, but also in 66.7% of the controls. Significant decreases in albumin:globulin ratio were obvious in 81.5% of the inoculated birds, including 100% of the birds with @entity738 . Blood from falcons with @entity738 demonstrated significantly increased concentration values of alpha 2 and b globulins, decreased percentages of prealbumin and albumin, and increased percentages of alpha 2 and b globulins compared to inoculated falcons without @entity738 . In conclusion, acute-phase proteins and the electrophoretic profile of birds challenged with A. fulmigatus show significant alterations, which in combination with other diagnostic procedures, assist in the early diagnosis of @entity2381 .
