APPLICATION OF 3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE MEASUREMENT AND PLASMA PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ASPERGILLOSIS IN AFRICAN PENGUINS ( SPHENISCUS DEMERSUS )
Open accessAbstract
New alternative laboratory means are needed to improve the options for antemortem diagnosis of avian aspergillosis. In this study, 3-hydroxybutyrate was measured in plasma samples collected from a cohort of African penguins ( Spheniscus demersus) maintained under human care. Results were interpreted in combination with those of protein electrophoresis and compared with anti- Aspergillus antibody and galactomannan antigen detection. Overall, 3-hydroxybutyrate levels were found significantly increased in Aspergillus-diseased cases versus the control penguin group ( P = 0.002). Mean absolute concentration of β-globulins was increased >20% in samples from infected birds, and α2-globublins were also found to be significantly increased versus clinically normal controls ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.001 respectively). Of note, the α2-globulins were also significantly increased versus penguins with inflammatory (non-aspergillosis) diseases ( P = 0.001). The specificity of 3-hydroxybutyrate, β-globulins, and α2-globulins for aspergillosis was 78.6%, 79.6%, and 92.2%, respectively. Using these measures in tandem resulted in high specificity (>90%) and negative predictive value (≥80%). In contrast, anti- Aspergillus antibody and galactomannan antigen did not distinguish between infected cases and controls ( P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that basic testing in tandem with the new biomarker 3-hydroxybutyrate may provide reliable evidence for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in penguins.
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New technologies such as diagnosis with image analysis, plasma biomarkers, and probiotic-based vaccination might be useful in reducing the incidence of aspergillosis among penguins.
“New technologies, such as diagnosis with image analysis [25,27], plasma biomarkers [38], and probiotic-based vaccination [39], might be useful in reducing the incidence of aspergillosis among penguins.”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [38]
The conclusion (section labeled “200”) says 3-hydroxybutyrate measurement may help diagnose aspergillosis in penguins, especially alongside plasma protein electrophoresis. This supports the plasma-biomarker part of the citing sentence, but the paper does not establish that these tests reduce the incidence of aspergillosis. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Research works printed but not linked: 9
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Thorel, M., Mateos-Hernandez, L., Mulot, B., Azzouni, M. N., Hodžić, A., Gaillot, H., Ruel, Y., Desoubeaux, G., Delaye, J.-B., Obregon, D., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.897223 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Itoh, M., Matsumoto, N., Hagino, K., Sawayama, N., Kuwayama, M., Yamada, K., & Toyotome, T. (2023) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani13121913 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Desoubeaux, G., Rodriguez, M., Bronson, E., Sirpenski, G., & Cray, C.
- Affiliations
- Université de Tours (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Rodriguez, Marilyn
- Bronson, Ellen
- Sirpenski, Gayle
- Cray, Carolyn
- Venue
- Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
- Published
- 2018-09
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 696-703
- ISSN
- 1042-7260 (ISSN-L)
- 1937-2825
- OpenAlex
- W2891968907
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.science
- Locations
- Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
- Keywords
- avian aspergillosis, African penguin, Spheniscus demersus, beta-hydroxybutyrate, plasma biomarkers, plasma protein electrophoresis, beta-globulin, alpha2-globulin, anti-Aspergillus antibodies, galactomannan antigen, antemortem diagnosis, diagnostic specificity, zoo animal disease
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Aspergillosis, Aspergillus, Bird Diseases, Blood Proteins, Electrophoresis, Female, Male, Sensitivity and Specificity, 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Spheniscidae
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