| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 233 | 129 | 8 |
| Full Text Views | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| PDF Downloads | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Bat Histoplasmosis in Alabama
Summary
Investigation of a bat colony situated in the attic of a university building in Alabama led to the recovery of Histoplasma capsulatum from 13 of 77 Florida free-tailed bats (Tadarida cynocephala). This fungus was also isolated from two of 42 samples of guano collected in the study site.
Soaking of the guano deposits and of dust in the attic with 3% formalin was recommended to reduce the hazard to acquiring histoplasmosis by workmen and others during renovation of the bat-infested building.
The role played by bats in the epidemiology of histoplasmosis is discussed.
Author Notes
Communicable Disease Center, Public Health Service, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Alabama State Department of Public Health, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.