Histoplasma capsulatum infection of bats in caves of Jahrom
Subject Areas : Mycology
Farangis Ghasemi
1
(Department of Biology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran)
AbbasAli Rezaeian
2
(Department of Microbiology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran)
Keywords:
Abstract :
Background and Objective: Bats, the second largest group of mammals, are the reservoir of Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus is found in soils enriched by bird droppings and bat guano especially in caves and fields and is transmissible to human beings. In this research, Histoplasma capsulatum infection of bats in the caves placed in Jahrom were investigated. Material and Method: In this study bats were captured with mist-net from 7 caves in Jahrom during 12 months (2010-2011). The bats were identified and classified according to taxonomic key in lab. The samples of skin, mouth, and internal organs of bats, were cultured in BHI media. Results: 168 bats belonging to 11 species and 6 families were identified in Jahrom region but none of them were infected to H. capsulatum. Conclusion: Despite high population and diversity of bat as a source of this fungus and favorable conditions in terms of nutrition, topology and climate, no contamination was detected. This illustrated that some other factors, such as genetic of bats, or physiological and ecologic factors may influence the life cycle of the fungus.
1. Jones, KE, Teeling EC. Mapping ecological and behavioural traits on phylogenies' Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats: University Press, 2009; 830 pp.
2. Weber N. Notes on Iraq Insectivora and Chiroptera. J Mam. 2005; 36(1): 123-126.
3. Kunz TH, Fenton MB. Bat ecology. 2006, University of Chicago Press, 798 pp.
4. Taylor ML, Pérez-Mejía A, Yamamoto-Furusho JK, Granados J. Immunologic, genetic and social human risk factors associated to histoplasmosis:Studies in the State of Guerrero, Mexico. Mycopathologia. 1999; 138(3): 137–142.
5. Lorch JM, Meteyer CU, Behr MJ, Boyles JG, Cryan PM, Hicks AC, Ballmann AE, Coleman JT, Redell DN, Reeder DM, Blehert DS. Experimental infection of bats with Geomyces destructans causes white-nose syndrome. Natu advanced online publication. 2011; 480(7377): 376-378.
6. Leroy EM, Kumulungui B, Pourrut X. Fruit bats as reservoirs of Ebola virus. Nature. 2005; 438: 575-576.
7. Dominguez SR, O’Shea, TJ, Oko LM. Detection of group 1 coronaviruses in bats in North America. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007; 13(9): 1295-1300.
8. Barnabe C, Brisse S, Tibayrenc M. Phylogenetic diversity of bat trypanosomes of subgenus Schizotrypanum based on multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, random amplified polymorphic DNA, and cytochrome b nucleotide sequence analyses. Infect Genet Evol. 2003; 2(3): 201-208.
9. Vatandoost H, Sharifi M, Moradi A, Kamali M, Taran M. Ectoparasites of lesser mouse eared bat, Myotis blythii from Kermanshah Iran, Asi Pacific J Tropic Med. 2010; 3(5): 371–373.
10. Hashemi S, Emami MA. Survey of 800 bats for isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum in Iran Acta Med Iranica. 2003; 41(2): 132-133.
11. Murray JF, Lurie HI, Kaye J. Benign pulmonary histoplasmosis (cave disease) in South Africa. S Afr Med J. 1957; 31(11): 245.
12. Kauffman CA. Histoplasmosis: a clinical and laboratory update, Clin Microbiol Rev. 2007; 20(1): 115-32.
13. Taylor ML, Chávez-Tapia CB, Reyes-Montes MR. Molecular typing of Histoplasma capsulatum isolated from infected bats, captured in Mexico. Fung Genet Biol. 2000; 30(3): 207-212.
14. Taylor ML, ChavizTapia C. Environmental conditions favoring bat infection with Histoplasma capsulatum in Mexican shelters. Am J Trop Meel Hyg. 2002; 61(6): 914-919.
15. Ajello L, Bricejo T, Campins H. Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from an oil bird (Steatorniscari-pensis) in caves in the Middle East. Mycopathologia. 1960; 12(3): 199-206.
16. Hage CA, Wheat LJ, Loyd J Allen SD. Pulmonary histoplasmosis, Semin. Respir Crit Care Med. 2008; 29(2): 151-65.
17. Taylor ML, Chávez-Tapia CB, Rojas-Martínez A, del Rocio Reyes-Montes M, del Valle MB, Zúñiga G. Geographical distribution of genetic polymorphism of the pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum isolated from infected bats, captured in a central zone of Mexico. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2005, 45(3): 451-458.
18. Adimi R. The survey of the soil of around the Tehran for isolation sporothrix schenckii, MSPH tesis. 1987. Theran University.Theran, Iran.[In Persian].
19. Marefat A. Montains and caves of Iran. 2003; Goli press, Theran, 484 pp.[In Persian].
20. Kwong-Chung KJ, Bennett JE. Histoplasmosis. Med Mycol. 1992; 464–513.
21. Wheat J. Current diagnosis of histoplasmosis. Trends Microbiol. 2003; 11(10): 488-494.
22. Asgari M, Owrang N. Result of skin test surveys or systemic mycosis in Iran. Mycopathologia et mycologia applicata. 1910; 41(1-2): 91-96.
23. Damlaji SF, Kotta EA. A survey of Histoplasmin sensitivity in Iraq. Bull World Health
Org. 1964; 30(4): 595-599.
24. Ajello L, Kuttin ES, Beemer AM, Kaplan W, Padhye A. Occurrence of Histoplasma Capsulatum in Israel, with a review of the current status of Histoplasmosis in the Middle East. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1977; 26(1): 140-147.
