Comparative Ecology of Respiratory Mycotic Disease Agents 1

Abstract

Gilchrist and Stokes 89 Coccidioides immitis 1900 Ophuls and Moffitt 162 Cryptococcus neoformans 1894 San Felice 181 Histoplasma capsulatum 1934 De Monbreun 51 medical attention as secondary invaders in chronic, debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, and tuberculosis, or when chemotherapeutic and immunorepressive measures, undertaken for the control of bacterial diseases or neoplasms, interfere with the patient's defense mechanisms. Accordingly, we will not take up such organisms as Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum, and various species of zygomycetes. We will discuss only those fungi that are almost invariably primary pathogens and that are most frequently encountered as pulmonary disease agents. These species are: Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum.

Expanding Understanding of Epidemiology of Coccidioidomycosis in the Western Hemisphere

“…infections are as prevalent there as in the endemic areas of the United States. 41 The studies by González-Ochoa (Encuesta Nacional 1961-1965) on skin testing with coccidioidin defined the epidemiologic distribution of coccidioidomycosis infection in three endemic zones in the country: the Northern zone, the Pacific Coast zone, and the Central zone, with variable rates of infection in the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Colima, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. 42 More recently, coccidioidin skin test regional surveys for prevalence of infection have shown rates of 10% (Tijuana, Baja California, 1991 43 ), 40% (Torreón, Coahuila, 1999 44 ), and 93% (12 communities in the state of Coahuila, 2005 45 ).…”

“…In Central America coccidioidin surveys conducted more than 40 years ago, showed that 21% of children tested at the Motagua River Valley in Guatemala, gave positive reactions, and in the Comayagua Valley of Honduras, skin test surveys revealed an overall prevalence of 25% positivity among the subjects tested. 41 The first human case of coccidioidomycosis in Nicaragua was reported in 1979 50 ; there are no published reports of prevalence of infection in that country.…”

“…In Santiago del Estero, a skin test survey by Negroni et al revealed a prevalence of 19% positive reactions among 2,213 children aged 6 to 16 years. 41…”

“…The probable endemic areas are in the Gran Chaco region, which both countries share with Argentina. 41 In Paraguay, Gomez 58 reported that coccidioidomycosis was endemic in the departments of Boqueron and Olimpo. He found that 44% of a group of Guazurangue Indians living in the department of Boqueron had positive reactions to coccidioidin.…”

Studies on the Occurrence of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Small Animals:Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen von Cryptococcus‐Meningitis bei kleinen Tieren

“…Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans is an important fungal disease of man anddifferentspeciesofanimalswith world-widedistribution(19,2,17,9,22,6,7,21,8,13).The etiological agent, Cryptococcus neoformans occurs as saprophyte in soil, pigeon droppings, bat guano which serve as rich sources of infection to man and animals (2,1,7,11,14). The lungs constitute the primary site of infection, lesions may disseminate to the central nervous system and other parts of the body through haematogenous or lymphogenous routes (5,3).…”