Isolation of Histoplasma Capsulatum From Arizona Bats1

Salvo, Arthur F. Di; Ajello, Libero; Palmer, Joseph W.; Winkler, William G.

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a120973

Cited by 34 publications

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“…It is also probable that the high frequency of H. capsulatum infection in several bat species favor their role as a fungal dispersion vehicle in nature due to their migratory habits, as already suggested. 29 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental conditions favoring bat infection with Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexican shelters.

Taylor

Chávez-Tapia²,

Vargas-Yañez³

et al. 1999

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated from gut, lung, liver, and spleen of 17 of 208 captured bats belonging to 6 different genera and species. Three of the 17 infected bats were from the State of Guerrero and 14 were from the State of Morelos. All were adult bats: 6 males (1 Pteronotus parnellii, 2 Natalus stramineus, 2 Artibeus hirsutus, and 1 Leptonycteris nivalis) and 11 females (1 Myotis californicus, 1 Mormoops megalophylla, 8 A. hirsutus, and 1 L. nivalis). High rates of bat infection with H. capsulatum were found in the monitored sites of the State of Morelos. Histoplasma infection of N. stramineus, A. hirsutus, and L. nivalis should be considered as the first records in the world. The fungus isolated from infected bats was identified by its typical mycelial-phase morphology and by its yeast-phase conversion. Exoantigen production confirmed the fungal identification by the presence of specific precipitation lines in double immunodiffusion assays using human immune serum. Histopathologic studies showed intracellular yeast-like cells compatible with H. capsulatum yeast-phase in tissues of several bats, especially in pulmonary (intra-alveolar and septal) macrophages, with none or minimal tissue reaction. In contrast to past reports, present data support a high risk of bat infection with H. capsulatum in Mexican cave environments.Bat guano and bird droppings have been shown to be the most common sources of the pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum Darling, 1906, the causative agent of the deep mycosis histoplasmosis, which has a worldwide distribution.1 The fungus is found either in confined spaces where bat guano is abundant or in open spaces such as public parks and home yards, where bird droppings are frequently found. Excreta from these animals are rich in nutrients necessary for fungal growth and together with soil and environmental conditions, humidity and temperature, constitute the ecologic niche of this microorganism. [1][2][3][4] Bats are among the few infected mammals that contribute to the maintenance of this fungus in natural foci, in addition to some gregarious birds such as starlings, black birds, chickens, oil birds, and pigeons. Aguirre-Pequeño in 1959 5 and González-Ochoa in 1963, 6 defined the habitat of bats related to the isolation of H. capsulatum in Mexico, and the latter tested experimental infection of Desmodus rotundus in the laboratory without success. Fungal infection of Myotis californicus and Mormoops megalophylla is considered the first record in the world, whereas P. parnellii infection is new for Mexico. Although the environmental factors promoting H. capsulatum growth in shared ecologic niches have long been known, the circumstances that favor bat infection have been poorly studied. This paper presents data that might contribute to the understanding of the conditions that foster bat infection with this fungus. MATERIALS AND METHODSBats capture sites. Bat specimens were captured from 11 different sites located in 2 states in Mexico: Guerrero and M...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental conditions favoring bat infection with Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexican shelters.

Taylor

Chávez-Tapia²,

Vargas-Yañez³

et al. 1999

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…Only 28 percent of infected bats from the wet Florida caves yielded H. capsuatum from the lungs, while this pathogen was isolated from the lungs of 66 percent or 10 of 15 of the positive bats captured in the hot, dry, dusty harborages of Arizona (2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Autopsies were performed within 6 days after capture, and the lungs, liver, and spleen were cultured. The methods for culturing bat tissue and processing soil have been described previously (2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat and Soil Studies for Sources of Histoplasmosis in Florida

DiSalvo¹,

Bigler²,

Ajello³

et al. 1970

Public Health Reports (1896-1970)

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“…4 The significance of bird and bat droppings in the ecology of histoplasmosis, through enhancing conditions for H. capsulatum growth, has been described. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In addition to improving soil conditions with guano, bats contribute to propagation of H. capsulatum by transmitting the organism to new sites. 10,11,13 This is because the gastrointestinal tracts of bats can be colonized with H. capsulatum.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In addition to improving soil conditions with guano, bats contribute to propagation of H. capsulatum by transmitting the organism to new sites. 10,11,13 This is because the gastrointestinal tracts of bats can be colonized with H. capsulatum. 13 Unlike bats and other mammals, avian species do not harbor the fungus, possibly because their core temperatures are too high.…”

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confidence: 99%

Outbreak of histoplasmosis among cavers attending the National Speleological Society Annual Convention, Texas, 1994.

Ashford¹,

Hajjeh²,

Kelley³

et al. 1999

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. In June 1994, 18 people developed serologically confirmed histoplasmosis following cave exploration associated with the annual National Speleological Society Convention in Bracketville, Texas. Six others had an undiagnosed illness suspected to be histoplasmosis. Two persons were hospitalized. We conducted a survey of convention attendees and a nested case-control study of those entering caves. We also conducted a histoplasmin skin test survey of a subgroup of the society, the Texas Cavers Association, who were attending a reunion in October 1994. Among the national convention attendees, exposure to two caves was identified as responsible for 22 (92%) of the 24 cases; 12 (75%) of 16 people exploring one cave (Cave A) and 10 (77%) of 13 exploring a separate cave (Cave B) developed acute histoplasmosis. Additional risk-factors included fewer years of caving experience, longer time spent in the caves, and entering a confined crawl space in Cave A. Of 113 participants in the separate skin test survey, 68 (60%) were found to be skin test positive, indicating previous exposure to Histoplasma capsulatum. A positive skin test was significantly associated with male sex and more years of caving experience. Those less experienced in caving associations should be taught about histoplasmosis, and health care providers should pursue histories of cave exposure for patients with bronchitis or pneumonia that does not respond to initial antibiotic therapy.

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Isolation of Histoplasma Capsulatum From Arizona Bats1

Cited by 34 publications

References 0 publications

Environmental conditions favoring bat infection with Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexican shelters.

Environmental conditions favoring bat infection with Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexican shelters.

Bat and Soil Studies for Sources of Histoplasmosis in Florida

Outbreak of histoplasmosis among cavers attending the National Speleological Society Annual Convention, Texas, 1994.

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