Rapid hematogenous dissemination of Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus spores in turkey poults following aerosol exposure.

Cultures of blood samples taken from 3-week-old turkey poults exposed to aerosolized spores of either Aspergillus fumigatus or A. flavus for 15 min yielded organisms. Aspergillus fumigatus was also isolated from brain and liver tissue samples taken immediately after exposure. Exfoliated cells from the lungs of 10 poults exposed to aerosolized spores of A. fumigatus were allowed to attach to glass slides in tissue culture. Several types of the fixed and stained cells had attached or ingested spores of A. fumigatus. Macrophages were the predominant cell type with ingested spores, although other cell types may be involved in the transport of spores of A. fumigatus into the blood stream after aerosol exposure.