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Mapping Histoplasma in Bats and Cave Ecosystems: Evidence from Midwestern Brazil
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 16, 2025
Summary
This study detected Histoplasma fungus in Brazilian caves and bats, highlighting environmental hotspots. Findings emphasize public health needs for histoplasmosis prevention in Latin America.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Caves harbor diverse microbes, with Histoplasma spp. linked to guano-rich environments.
- Latin America is endemic for histoplasmosis, yet Histoplasma distribution is poorly understood.
- Bat populations are potential reservoirs for Histoplasma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the environmental and host distribution of Histoplasma in Brazil.
- To identify specific cave locations with high fungal prevalence.
- To assess Histoplasma presence in various bat tissues.
Main Methods:
- Developed and applied a Histoplasma-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the hc100 gene.
- Analyzed guano samples from seven bat-inhabited caves.
- Examined tissue samples (lung, spleen, brain) from 74 bats across nine species.
Main Results:
- Histoplasma DNA was detected in 20% of soil samples and in bats from seven species.
- Positive results were found in 39 out of 222 bat tissue samples (lung, spleen, brain).
- Identified environmental 'hotspots' of fungal prevalence within sampled caves.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals critical insights into Histoplasma distribution in Brazilian bats and caves.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate histoplasmosis risk.
- qPCR is a valuable tool for detecting Histoplasma in environmental and biological samples for epidemiological research.
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