Breeding pairs that were once very productive and that had mysteriously stopped producing fertile eggs, may have fallen victim to Aspergillus because of the stress of breeding. The potential for returning these birds to breeding activity can save many aviaries from financial failure. Every person and animal breathes in thousands of Aspergillus spores every day. They cannot grow in the lungs of a healthy body, but in a diseased lung, or in the case of a weak immune system, this very slow growing fungus can sprout. In human medicine, no-one promises a cure anymore.
Treatments continue for months, sometimes years.
This is the kind of disease that is more of a symptom of another problem. So because of the less than perfect immune system, treatment is an uphill battle. Unfortunately almost all caged birds are eating poor diets, very deficient in important vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enough protein. This makes them candidates for infection already. Some birds are set up as breeders.