Outbreak of acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in members of a wagon train

Gustafson, Tracy L.; Kaufman, Leo; Weeks, Robert J.; Ajello, Libero; Hutcheson, Robert H.; Wiener, Stanley L.; Lambe, Dwight W.; Sayvetz, Tom A.; Schaffner, William

doi:10.1016/0002-9343(81)90361-2

Cited by 33 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…As bat guano in Topolniţa Cave was already reported to be the source of H. capsulatum (Alteras, 1966), the estimation that more than 3% of cultivable fungi may be aerosolized gives an important warning to avoid contact with potential fungal pathogens from guano. High aerosolization potential of fungal spores from guano can be the answer for many cases of guano-associated histoplasmoses reported in landfill, bridge, and wagon-train workers (Gustafson et al, 1981;Huhn et al, 2005), during home renovations (Schoenberger et al, 1988), or among cavers (Ashford et al, 1999).…”

Section: Aerosolization Of Microbes From Guanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosolized Microbes from Organic Rich Materials: Case Study of Bat Guano from Caves in Romania

Borda¹,

Năstase-Bucur²,

Spînu³

et al. 2014

JCKS

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Cave air, bat guano, and swabs of bat fur from caves with bat guano in Romania were analyzed by using RIDAHCOUNT cultivation plates and standard selective media for Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. 7 CFU/g). The gravity-settling principle was applied to sample airborne microorganisms, and a new method was developed for evaluation of aerosolization potential. In cave air, the concentration of total bacteria was higher than yeast and molds. In addition to coliforms, enterobacteria, E. coli, and unidentified cultivable bacteria in the air samples, we also identified Chryseomonas luteola, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. In the experiment that provoked microbial aerosolization from guano, 3.35% of total cultivable fungi were aerosolized, up to 0.10% of bacteria, and 0.00% of E. coli. The concentration of Staphylococcus in the air exceeded counts of Streptococcus. The highest concentrations of airborne microorganisms were on the ground level. Using cultivation plates as a robust method we demonstrated that the relative proportion of microbial subgroups in the air remained constant in different seasons, with lower concentrations of airborne microbiota in the autumn. Caves as simplified natural systems demonstrated complex relationships between atmospheric parameters and microorganisms. Bats introduce into caves varying, but not negligible, concentrations of microbes on their fur. Caves with guano had relative high concentration of airborne microbes that may represent a biohazard for animals and humans.

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Section: Aerosolization Of Microbes From Guanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosolized Microbes from Organic Rich Materials: Case Study of Bat Guano from Caves in Romania

Borda¹,

Năstase-Bucur²,

Spînu³

et al. 2014

JCKS

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“…The majority of infected travelers reported to date were engaged in activities associated with heavy exposure to infected dust, such as exploring bat-infested caves, cleaning sites harboring fungi, and construction work [6,49]. Occasionally, even traveling through an endemic area by train is enough to cause a cluster of histoplasmosis cases [52].…”

Section: Hobbies Lifestyles and Ifis Tourism And Ifismentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupation, Lifestyle, Diet, and Invasive Fungal Infections

Sipsas

Kontoyiannis

2008

Infection

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Many professions, especially those involving outdoor activities, are associated with increased environmental exposure to pathogenic fungi and, subsequently, increased risk of IFIs. Inhalation and direct inoculation through minor skin lesions are the most common mechanisms of fungal infection. In addition, different lifestyle practices, such as smoking tobacco or marijuana, body piercing, tattooing, use of illicit intravenous drugs, and pet ownership, various outdoor leisure activities, such as gardening, camping, spelunking, and hunting, and traveling to endemic areas are associated with an increased risk of IFIs. Finally, some modern diet habits dictate the consumption of food or herbal products harboring pathogenic fungi or fungal toxins, which may cause IFIs in susceptible individuals.

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“…The similarity of skin test positivity rates among subjects in building V (located directly downwind from the sanctuary) and subjects in building X (located in the opposite direction) also attests to the limited role of the sanctuary in generating infective aerosols. Leaving the sanctuary undisturbed appears to provide adequate protection [16]. Destroying it could potentially create dangerous aerosols, and environmental concerns limited the other options [17,18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%