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Human and canine blastomycosis: A common source infection

M W Morgan1, I E Salit

  • 1The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases = Journal Canadien Des Maladies Infectieuses
|April 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A man and dog contracted blastomycosis (a fungal infection) after visiting an Ontario island. This case highlights a potential new endemic area for blastomycosis in Canada.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Blastomyces.
  • Endemic areas are typically in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and the St. Lawrence River valley.
  • Human and animal infections are often linked to environmental exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a suspected common-source outbreak of blastomycosis in humans and dogs.
  • To identify a potential new endemic area for blastomycosis in Ontario, Canada.
  • To document the first Canadian report of a shared source for human and canine blastomycosis.

Main Methods:

  • Case investigation and clinical assessment.
  • Serological testing for human cases.
  • Veterinary diagnosis for canine cases.
  • Geographical and temporal analysis of exposure.

Main Results:

  • One human and one canine case of confirmed blastomycosis occurred in fall 1993.
  • An additional human case (seropositive) and four probable canine cases were identified.
  • All cases had visited the same island in Bayfield Inlet, Georgian Bay, during summer/early fall 1993.
  • This represents the first reported common source of human and canine blastomycosis in Canada.
  • Evidence suggests a new endemic region for blastomycosis.

Conclusions:

  • The island in Bayfield Inlet is a likely common source of Blastomyces exposure.
  • This outbreak indicates a potential new endemic area for blastomycosis in Ontario.
  • Simultaneous human and canine infections underscore the importance of environmental risk assessment.
Keywords:
Blastomycosis

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