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Is Histoplasma capsulatum a native inhabitant of Japan?

Ken Kikuchi1, Takashi Sugita, Koichi Makimura

  • 1Department of Infection Control Science, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. kikuti@med.juntendo.ac.jp

Microbiology and Immunology
|December 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated the potential for native Histoplasma capsulatum in Japan. Researchers found no evidence of the fungus in bat guano samples from Japanese caves, suggesting it is unlikely to be endemic.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Environmental Microbiology

Background:

  • Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is typically considered an imported fungal infection in Japan.
  • Some cases in Japan lack travel history or known occupational exposure, raising questions about potential native sources.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the possibility of native distribution of Histoplasma capsulatum in Japan.
  • To determine if Japanese bat guano serves as a reservoir for H. capsulatum.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 187 bat guano samples from 67 caves across 17 Japanese prefectures.
  • Examined samples for H. capsulatum using both traditional culture methods and Histoplasma-specific PCR.
  • Conducted analyses in three independent laboratories to ensure reliability.

Main Results:

  • Histoplasma capsulatum was not detected in any of the bat guano samples.
  • Neither culture nor PCR methods yielded positive results for H. capsulatum.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that Histoplasma capsulatum is unlikely to be present in bat guano within Japanese caves.
  • The study provides evidence against the endemic presence of H. capsulatum in Japan's cave ecosystems.

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