Observations of aspergillosis in the brains of turkey poults using different histopathological staining techniques

Abstract

Different staining methods were evaluated for studying aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathological changes and fungal elements in cerebrum and cerebellum of 17 turkey poults with aspergillosis were examined and described. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Klüver-Barrera's and Grocott's methods, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Focal granulomatous reactions with central necrosis were observed in the HE stained slides. Fungal hyphae were easily demonstrated using Grocott's method and PAS. These two methods, however, were not suitable for describing detailed histopathological changes. The Klüver-Barrera method was used to demonstrate the neural tissue reaction. Neurons were found to be sensitive to aspergillosis, in contrast to glial cells that showed fewer pathological changes. The fungal elements were clearly visible with the Klüver-Barrera method, resulting in better information about the interactions of neural tissue, the inflammatory response, and the fungus. The use of the Klüver-Barrera method for this purpose has not been documented previously.

• aspergillosis
• histopathology
• Klüver-Barrera method
• meningoencephalitis
• turkey poults