Which symptom is most closely linked to aspergillosis?

• A. Heavy breathing
• B. Diarrhea
• C. Sneezing
• D. Feather loss

Answer: (A)

Heavy breathing reflects the way aspergillosis primarily affects the respiratory system in birds, causing irritation, airway obstruction, and labored breathing. This fungal infection targets the lungs and airways, so signs like panting or open-mouth breathing are a direct consequence of the disease. The other options aren’t as closely tied to this respiratory infection: diarrhea involves the gut, sneezing can occur with various nasal irritations but is less specific to a fungal lung infection, and feather loss isn’t a typical feature of aspergillosis. When a falcon shows increased breathing effort, respiratory disease such as aspergillosis should be considered and investigated.