Veterinary Research Forum

Fungal carriage in wild birds from Northwestern Türkiye: a descriptive study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Büşra Aslan Akyol 1
Murad Gürses 2
Muharrem Erol 3
Eyup Tolga Akyol 3
Ziya İlhan 4

1 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Türkiye

2 Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Türkiye

3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Türkiye

4 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Türkiye

10.30466/vrf.2026.2071615.4912
Abstract
Wild birds play a significant role in the dissemination of micro-organisms, including fungal agents, through feathers, skin debris, and feces, both locally and across regions via migration. Identifying fungal carriage in wild birds is crucial for understanding the prevalence of pathogenic fungi and developing effective strategies to prevent and control mycotic infections. This study investigated fungal carriage in wild pigeons, doves, water birds, birds of prey, and small passerines in Balıkesir province of Türkiye, an ecologically important region characterized by key wetlands, two national parks, and major migratory bird routes. A total of 46 wild bird samples were analyzed by culture method, as the “gold standard”, and several clinically important fungal isolates were obtained and subsequently further analyzed by PCR. Fungi were detected across all bird categories, with 27 birds (58.70%) testing positive for at least one fungal species. In total, 10 distinct fungal taxa were isolated from the wild birds. The most frequently identified organisms were Mucor spp. (28.26%) and Aspergillus niger (6.52%), followed by Sporothrix schenckii (4.35%), Candida glabrata (4.30%), Arthroderma terrestre (2.17%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.17%), Nannizzia gypsea (2.17%), Aspergillus flavus (2.17%), Aspergillus fumigatus (2.17%), Lichtheimia spp. (2.17%), and Beauveria spp. (2.17%). Prevalence was the highest in birds of prey and small passerines (77.78%), moderate in pigeons and doves (58.82%), and the lowest in water birds (27.27%). These results emphasize the role of wild birds as potential reservoirs and vectors of fungal agents, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance and biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of environmental and zoonotic transmissions.

Keywords

Carriage
Fungi
Tü
rkiye
Wild birds
Subjects
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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 17, Issue 7
July 2026
Pages 451-459

  • Receive Date 17 September 2025
  • Revise Date 17 December 2025
  • Accept Date 07 January 2026

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