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Original site: www.cdc.gov/niosh/histoplasmosis/about/environment.html | RestoredCDC.org is an independent project, not affiliated with CDC or any federal entity. Visit CDC.gov for free official information. Due to archival on January 6, 2025, recent outbreak data is unavailable. Videos are not restored. Access data.restoredcdc.org for restored data. Use of this site implies acceptance of this disclaimer.[More]About Us Report Bug Compare ContentSkip directly to site content Skip directly to search Skip directly to On This PageAn official website of the United States governmentHere's how you knowOfficial websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) HistoplasmosisExplore TopicsSearchSearchClear InputHistoplasmosisFor Everyone* About Histoplasmosis and Work* Prevention* Related Diseases* View allHealth Care Providers* Safety Guidelines* View allPublic Health* Evaluation* View allView Allsearch close searchsearchNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)Histoplasmosis Menu CloseHistoplasmosis MenusearchFor Everyone* About Histoplasmosis and Work* Prevention* Related Diseases* View AllHealth Care Providers* Safety Guidelines* View AllPublic Health* Evaluation* View AllView All HistoplasmosisNIOSH HistoplasmosisDecember 17, 2024Histoplasma in the Environment: An OverviewKey points* Histoplasma mainly lives in soil in the central and eastern United States particularly areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys.* It grows especially well in material containing large amounts of bird or bat droppings.OverviewHistoplasma is the fungus that causes histoplasmosis. It lives throughout the world. However, it's most common in North America and Central America.1In the United States, Histoplasma mainly lives in soil in central and eastern states. For example, it lives in areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. However, it can live in other parts of the country also, especially if the environmental conditions are highly suitable. In the environment, Histoplasma is undetectable to the naked eye.Estimated areas with histoplasmosis in the United StatesThis map shows CDC's current estimate of where the fungi that cause histoplasmosis live in the environment in the United States. These fungi are spread unevenly throughout the shaded areas. Darker shading shows areas where Histoplasma is more likely to live. Diagonal shading shows the potential range of Histoplasma.Keep Reading: Areas with HistoplasmosisWhere it livesHistoplasma grows especially well in soil or other environmental material containing large amounts of bird or bat droppings. Bird and bat droppings act as a source for the growth of Histoplasma already present in soil.2 Fresh bird droppings on surfaces such as sidewalks and windowsills likely do not pose a risk for histoplasmosis. This is because birds themselves are rarely infected with Histoplasma. Unlike birds, bats can become infected with Histoplasma. They may also be able to excrete it in their droppings.3A large number of birds or bats can also pose a risk for Histoplasma exposure. The types of birds typically associated with histoplasmosis outbreaks include chickens, blackbirds (starlings and grackles), pigeons, and gulls.45Presence of birds, bats, or large accumulations of their droppings is not necessary for Histoplasma to grow. Many patients with histoplasmosis do not have such exposures.6Histoplasma has been detected in some organic fertilizers in Latin America. More studies can help us understand whether the fungus can survive commercial fertilizer manufacturing processes.78For any material suspected of Histoplasma contamination, the safest approach is to:* Assume the material contains Histoplasma.* Take exposure precautions.* Remediate it accordingly.See Also: Preventing Histoplasma Exposures in the WorkplaceEnvironmental TestingDetecting Histoplasma in environmental samples can be challenging. Routine environmental sampling for Histoplasma is not recommended. However, research is needed to evaluate potential targeted testing strategies. Focused polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture testing can help confirm a suspected environmental source during a histoplasmosis outbreak. In outbreak settings without a clear exposure, large-scale environmental testing is unlikely to be useful.In outbreak settings with a very clear exposure, environmental testing may not be necessary. Particularly, if the results would not change public health recommendations to prevent future cases.Also, an environmental sample that tests negative for Histoplasma does not necessarily mean that the fungus is not present or was not present at the time the exposure occurred.On This Page* Overview* Where it lives* Environmental TestingRelated PagesAbout Histoplasmosis and WorkRelated Pages** About Histoplasmosis and Work* Prevention* Related Diseases* View AllView All HistoplasmosisPreventionBack to TopDecember 17, 2024Sources Print ShareFacebook LinkedIn Twitter SyndicateContent Source:National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthReferences1. Ashraf N, Kubat RC, Poplin V, Adenis AA, Denning DW, Wright L, McCotter O, Schwartz IS, Jackson BR, Chiller T, Bahr NC [2020]. Re-drawing the maps for endemic mycoses. Mycopathologia 185(5):843–865.2. Ajello L [1964]. Relationship of Histoplasma capsulatum to avian habitats. Public health reports 79:266–270.3. Hoff GL, Bigler WJ [1981]. The role of bats in the propagation and spread of histoplasmosis: a review. J Journal of Wildlife Diseases 17(2):191–196.4. Benedict K, Mody RK [2016]. Epidemiology of histoplasmosis outbreaks, United States, 1938-2013. Emerg Infect Dis 22(3):370–378.5. Waldman RJ, England AC, Tauxe R, Kline T, Weeks RJ, Ajello L, Kaufman L, Wentworth B, Fraser DW [1983].A winter outbreak of acute histoplasmosis in northern Michigan. Am J Epidemiol 117(1):68–75.6. Benedict K, McCracken S, Signs K, Ireland M, Amburgey V, Serrano JA, Christophe N, Gibbons-Burgener S, Hallyburton S, Warren KA, Keyser Metobo A, Odom R, Groenewold MR, Jackson BR [2020]. Enhanced surveillance for histoplasmosis—nine states, 2018–2019. Open Forum Infect Dis 7(9):ofaa343.7. Gómez LF, Torres IP, Jiménez-A MDP, McEwen JG, de Bedout C, Peláez CA, Acevedo JM, Taylor ML, Arango M [2018]. Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum in organic fertilizers by Hc100 nested polymerase chain reaction and its correlation with the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the samples. Am J Trop Med Hyg 98(5):1303–1312.8. Londono LFG, Leon LCP, Ochoa JGM, Rodriguez AZ, Jaramillo CAP, Ruiz JMA, Taylor ML, Arteaga MA, Alzate MDJ [2019]. Capacity of Histoplasma capsulatum to survive the composting process. Applied and Environmental Soil Science 2019.Related PagesAbout Histoplasmosis and WorkRelated Pages** About Histoplasmosis and Work* Prevention* Related Diseases* View AllView All HistoplasmosisBack to TopNIOSHThe Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established NIOSH as a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, and empowering employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces.View AllFor Everyone* About Histoplasmosis and Work* Prevention* Related DiseasesHealth Care Providers* Safety GuidelinesPublic Health* EvaluationSign up for Email UpdatesContact UsContact Us* Call 800-232-4636* Contact CDCAbout CDCAbout CDC* Pressroom* Organization* Budget & Funding* Careers & JobsPolicies* Accessibility* External Links* Privacy* Web Policies* FOIA* OIG* No Fear Act* Nondiscrimination* Vulnerability Disclosure PolicyLanguagesLanguages* EspañolLanguage Assistance* Español* 繁體中文* Tiếng Việt* 한국어* Tagalog* Русский* العربية* Kreyòl Ayisyen* Français* Polski* Português* Italiano* Deutsch* 日本語* فارسی* EnglishArchive* CDC Archive* Public Health PublicationsContact UsContact Us* Call 800-232-4636* Contact CDCAbout CDC* Pressroom* Organization* Budget & Funding* Careers & Jobs* About CDCPolicies* Accessibility* External Links* Privacy* Web Policies* FOIA* OIG* No Fear Act* Nondiscrimination* Vulnerability Disclosure PolicyLanguagesLanguages* EspañolLanguage Assistance* Español* 繁體中文* Tiếng Việt* 한국어* Tagalog* Русский* العربية* Kreyòl Ayisyen* Français* Polski* Português* Italiano* Deutsch* 日本語* فارسی* EnglishArchive* CDC Archive* Public Health PublicationsHHS.gov USA.govContent CredentialsInformation about how an image was edited or created. 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