Imported histoplasmosis in Spain

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus endemic in the American continent but not in Europe, where cases are usually imported. Its favorite habitat is in warm humid soils. Guano from birds and bats enhance the sporulation of the mycelial phase.1 Man acquires H. capsulatum through inhalation of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel medicine 2000-03, Vol.7 (2), p.89-91
Main Authors: GASCON, J, TORRES, J. M, LUBURICH, P, AYUSO, J. R, XAUBET, A, CORACHAN, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amibiasis
Biological and medical sciences
Histoplasmosis - diagnosis
Histoplasmosis - epidemiology
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Latin America
Lung Diseases, Fungal - diagnosis
Lung Diseases, Fungal - epidemiology
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Parasitic diseases
Protozoal diseases
Spain - epidemiology
Travel
Tropical medicine
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Description
Summary:Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus endemic in the American continent but not in Europe, where cases are usually imported. Its favorite habitat is in warm humid soils. Guano from birds and bats enhance the sporulation of the mycelial phase.1 Man acquires H. capsulatum through inhalation of spores. Most people infected by this fungi remain asymptomatic, but around 10-50% can start an illness ranging from acute pulmonary histoplasmosis to chronic histoplasmosis. In both, there is close clinical resemblance to pulmonary tuberculosis. Immunodepressed patients undergo a more severe form of the disease, usually presenting in the acute disseminated form. We present seven immunocompetent patients with histoplasmosis acquired after traveling to several American countries.
ISSN:1195-1982
1708-8305
DOI:10.2310/7060.2000.00028