Histoplasma capsulatum is a diphasic, soil-borne fungus. Humans and other mammals inhale wind-blown soils and aerosolized bird droppings that contain these organism so become infected. The disease is acquired by inhaling the microconidia or small spores.
Histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum is widespread in its geographical distribution (North, Central and South America; Africa and Southeast Asia) and endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and northeastern USA in soil of damp, fertile areas, polluted by birds, dogs, bats and skunks.
Histoplasmosis has a broad spectrum of clinical presentations, including symptomatic infection, acute or chronic pulmonary infection, mediastinal fibrosis, granulomas and disseminated histoplasmosis.
What is histoplasmosis?
