Histoplasmosis: is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. Histoplasmosis is most commonly transmitted when these spores become airborne, often during cleanup or demolition projects. 1. Introduction and Epidemiology • Causative Agent: Histoplasmosis is caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. • Geographical Distribution: Endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys in the United States, as well as parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. • Environmental Reservoirs: Found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. Explain how activities like construction, farming, or spelunking can disturb these areas and release spores. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, those who do may have a fever, cough, and fatigue. Many people who get histoplasmosis will get better on their own without medication, but in some people, such as those who have weakened immune systems, the infection can become severe.
