Countermeasures Against Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins: Multidisciplinary Approach as One Aspergillosis Control Team
Open accessAbstract
Aspergillosis is a major fungal infection in humans and animals. Penguins (Order Spheniscidae) are particularly susceptible to aspergillosis, and aspergillosis in captive penguins is presently a major problem. We were faced with the challenge of combating aspergillosis in an aquarium. As a solution, we organized a multidisciplinary aspergillosis control team, including a medical and veterinary mycologist. Since Aspergillus, including Aspergillus fumigatus, is abundant in soil, we thought it necessary to minimize contact between captive penguins and soil to prevent aspergillosis. As a countermeasure, we stopped using a route for outdoor penguin marches where the soil was exposed. Additionally, after outdoor penguin marches, the feet of penguins were washed with seawater to avoid bringing soil into the rearing facility for penguins. Furthermore, since A. fumigatus was detected on several spots in the environment of the rearing facility by swab analysis, we cleaned and sanitized the rearing facility with 0.02% sodium hypochlorite and hot water. As a result of the above measures, there has been no incidence of aspergillosis in captive penguins since 2016. These results show that our preventive measures are working well. As shown here, we presented an example of how the multidisciplinary control team, which included a mycologist, successfully implemented preventive measures against aspergillosis. Due to changes in the rearing environment and the impact of global warming on penguins, it is expected that the role of mycologists in aspergillosis control will expand in the future.
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In our previous study, Aspergillus fumigatus was detected from air conditioner vents.
“In our previous study [28,29], A. fumigatus was detected from air conditioner vents.”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
The section discussing the previous study reports that swabs detected A. fumigatus on air conditioners and exhaust fans in the penguin rearing facility. It does not identify the sampled surfaces as air-conditioner vents specifically. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredVarious improvements in zoos and aquariums, such as reference to and adherence to penguin breeding manuals and preventive management, were thought to have reduced the number of deaths.
“Although the climate in Japan is hot and humid for penguins, various improvements in zoos and aquariums, such as reference to and adherence to penguin breeding manuals [33] and preventive management [28,29,30], were thought to have reduced the number of deaths.”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
The Abstract and Conclusion describe preventive measures at one aquarium and report no new aspergillosis cases in its captive penguins since 2016. They do not report a reduction in penguin deaths across zoos and aquariums. The breeding-manual example is attached to a different citation in the citing sentence. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn a previous report from the authors' aquarium, six aspergillosis cases occurred between 2009 and 2015, and no aspergillosis occurred from 2016 to 2020 after implementing measures to minimize penguin contact with soil.
“As a result, although the aquarium had six aspergillosis cases between 2009 and 2015, there was no incidence of aspergillosis from 2016 to 2020 [28,29].”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
To prevent aspergillosis, contact with Aspergillus must be minimized in penguins and the health of each penguin should be maintained.
“Therefore, to prevent aspergillosis, contact with Aspergillus must be minimized in penguins, and the health of each penguin should be maintained [28,29,30,31].”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
Prevention of access to soil was a useful measure for reducing aspergillosis in an aquarium.
“As shown in our previous study, the prevention of access to soil was a useful measure for reducing aspergillosis in an aquarium [28,29].”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
Even when housed indoors, air conditioners are associated with a risk of contamination with fungi including Aspergillus species.
“For example, even when housed indoors, air conditioners are associated with a risk of contamination with fungi including Aspergillus species.”
From Nationwide Survey about the Occurrence of Aspergillosis in Captive Penguins in Zoos and Aquariums in Japan (2023) · cites this paper as [29]
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Cites
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Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- AZA Penguin Taxon Advisory Group: Penguin (Spheniscidae) care manual. the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Association with the AZA Animal Welfare Committee, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, 2014.
- Inokashira Park Zoo: A survey of captive penguins in Japan. Journal of Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquarium 13: 62-69, 1971. [Article in Japanese]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
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
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Zea, S. M. R., Nakaya, Y., Takahashi, H., Nagamine, T., Yaguchi, T., & Toyotome, T. (2025) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2025.1675145
Self-citation
- Authors
- Toyotome, T., Matsumoto, N., Itoh, M., & Yamada, K.
- Affiliations
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University (JP)
- Azabu University (JP)
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JP)
- Venue
- Medical Mycology Journal
- Published
- 2022
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 49-52
- ISSN
- 2185-6486 (ISSN-L)
- 2186-165X
- OpenAlex
- W4285269073
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 0.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Medical Mycology Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (21K05931, 17K08095)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
- Keywords
- aspergillosis, captive penguins, Aspergillus fumigatus, fungal infection prevention, soil exposure, sodium hypochlorite disinfection
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Aspergillosis, Aspergillus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Soil, Spheniscidae
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