Direct Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from Soil: Probable Etiological Relationship to Camp Gruber Pneumonitis

Abstract

We report the first direct isolation of H. capsulatum from natural sources; i.e., soil from a storm cellar in which severe pneumonitis was contracted by soldiers in 1944. This organism was also isolated from soil from the storm cellar following animal inoculation on three occasions. This evidence and that obtained by studies of the men involved in the pneumonitis epidemic indicates that the epidemic was caused by H. capsulatum.