Aspergillosis (lung fungus) in canaries and finches
Other names: Chest fungus
Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing and tail bobbing
- Voice change
- Weight loss
- Neurological signs if it spreads
How it spreads
Inhaling spores from moldy grain or nesting material or from high humidity, together with weak immunity.
Diagnosis
X-ray, PCR, a blood test, and culture (Merck).
Treatment
Per Merck: itraconazole 5-10 mg/kg orally once or twice daily, or terbinafine, or voriconazole, with nebulization using clotrimazole or amphotericin. Treatment is long and the outcome is not guaranteed in small finches. (All under veterinary supervision.)
Prevention
Dry, clean grain without mold, storage in a dry place, clean nesting material, and ventilation.
Season
Winter and high-humidity seasons (Alexandria and the Delta)
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.