Histoplasma
Encyclopedia
Histoplasma is a genus
of dimorphic fungi
commonly found in bird and bat fecal
material. Histoplasma contains a few species, including—H. capsulatum—the causative agent of histoplasmosis
; and Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum (old term, Histoplasma farciminosum), causing epizootic lymphangitis
in horses. Histoplasma capsulatum is most prevalent in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. It was discovered by Samuel Taylor Darling
in 1906.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dimorphic fungi
Dimorphic fungi
Dimorphic fungi are fungi which can exist as mold/hyphal/filamentous form or as yeast. An example is Penicillium marneffei:* At room temperature, it grows as a mold.* At body temperature, it grows as a yeast....
commonly found in bird and bat fecal
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
material. Histoplasma contains a few species, including—H. capsulatum—the causative agent of histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs...
; and Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum (old term, Histoplasma farciminosum), causing epizootic lymphangitis
Equine Lymphangitis
Lymphangitis in horses is an inflammation or swelling associated with impairment of the lymphatic system, particularly in a limb. It is most commonly a bacterial infection, although bacterial culture may be negative....
in horses. Histoplasma capsulatum is most prevalent in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. It was discovered by Samuel Taylor Darling
Samuel Taylor Darling
Samuel Taylor Darling was an American pathologist and bacteriologist who discovered the pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum in 1906. He died in Beirut in a car accident together with British malariologist Norman Lothian. The 'Darling Prize' for malaria research was established in his...
in 1906.
External links
- Histoplasma information from doctorfungus.org