ABSTRACT
Background: Histoplasmosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, represents an important public health problem, especially in urban environments where bats and humans cohabit indoors. Aims: To detect the presence of H. capsulatum indoors, using samples of bat droppings collected in roost sites inside houses. Methods:A Real-Time TaqMan PCR assay targeting the ITS1 region of the ribosomal NA of H. capsulatum was carried out. Results: Fifty-nine sampling points in the municipality of São Paulo were inspected, all of them located at inhabited places. H. capsulatum was isolated from nine samples. Conclusions: The rapid identification and monitoring of sites where the fungus is present may contribute to make a more reliable database of H. capsulatum distribution
Antecedentes: La histoplasmosis, causada por el hongo dimorfo Histoplasma capsulatum, representa un importante problema de salud pública, especialmente en los entornos urbanos donde los murciélagos y los humanos conviven en los espacios interiores. Objetivos: Detectar la presencia de H. capsulatum en interiores mediante muestras de excrementos de murciélagos recogidas en sitios de reposo de estos animales dentro de las casas. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un ensayo de PCR TaqMan(R) en tiempo real dirigido a la región ITS1 del ADN ribosómico de H. capsulatum. Resultados: Se muestrearon 59 puntos en el municipio de São Paulo, todos ubicados en lugares habitados. H. capsulatum se aisló en nueve de estos lugares. Conclusiones: Una rápida identificación y control de los sitios donde se encuentra H. capsulatum contribuiría a la creación de una base de datos más sólida en lo referente a la distribución de este hongo
Subject(s)
Animals , Chiroptera/microbiology , DNA, Fungal/isolation & purification , Fungal Proteins/genetics , Histoplasma/genetics , Housing , Brazil , DNA, Ribosomal , Feces/microbiology , Fungal Proteins/isolation & purification , Histoplasma/isolation & purification , Histoplasmosis/microbiology , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Urban HealthABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Histoplasmosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, represents an important public health problem, especially in urban environments where bats and humans cohabit indoors. AIMS: To detect the presence of H. capsulatum indoors, using samples of bat droppings collected in roost sites inside houses. METHODS: A Real-Time TaqMan PCR assay targeting the ITS1 region of the ribosomal DNA of H. capsulatum was carried out. RESULTS: Fifty-nine sampling points in the municipality of São Paulo were inspected, all of them located at inhabited places. H. capsulatum was isolated from nine samples. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid identification and monitoring of sites where the fungus is present may contribute to make a more reliable database of H. capsulatum distribution.
