Epidemic Histoplasmosis and Airborne Histoplasma capsulatum

Abstract

Two sizes of Venturi scrubber air samplers were used in 14 attempts made to isolate H. capsulatum from the air at the sites of 2 epidemics of the disease. The larger sampler operated at a rate of 16 cfm; the smaller at 2.5 cfm. Periods of operation varied from 0.5 to 4.5 hrs.; the Venturi openings were 0.5-5 ft. above the ground. The sampler fluid was filtered through Goetz millipore filters and mice were injd. intraperit. with the material on the filters. H. capsulatum was isolated from the mice in 6 of the 14 trials. These results, together with the presence of an epidemic pulmonary disease in the persons exposed, provide evidence that H. capsulatum can be air borne.