[Outbreak of acute histoplasmosis in a family group: identification of the infection source].

Abstract

An outbreak of acute histoplasmosis occurring in 4 members of the same family, two women, a girl and a male, is reported. The index case presented acute respiratory symptoms, severe enough to require hospitalization. In the remaining persons, the infection was asymptomatic but was evidenced by reactive histoplasmin serologic tests. Search for the common source of infection led to an enriched soil obtained in a local nursery for growing in-door plants. BALB/c mice were inoculated with suspensions of soils from the potted plants. Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum was isolated from various internal organs of the mice. Although histoplasmosis is observed more frequently in persons with occupations implying risk of exposure and is connected to rural areas, outbreaks and intra-family cases are now common in urban areas. This is due to massive urbanization, deforestation, demolitions and the use of soils enriched with organic compounds, mainly bird/bat excrements. This report calls the attention on the danger involved in using such enriched soils for plant nutrition.

• Authors: Roberto Alonso Jiménez, Martha Eugenia Urán, Catalina de Bedout, Myrtha Arango, Angela Maria Tobón, Luz Elena Cano, Angela Restrepo
• Journal: Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud (Biomedica) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 155-9 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0120-4157 [Print] Colombia
• Vernacular Title: Brote de histoplasmosis aguda en un grupo familiar: identificación de la fuente de infección.
• PMID: 12152481 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Child, Preschool
• Colombia (epidemiology)
• Disease Outbreaks
• Family
• Female
• Histoplasma (isolation & purification)
• Histoplasmosis (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Humans
• Lung Diseases (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Soil Microbiology