SHORT REPORT Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from bats in the urban area of São Paulo State, Brazil

The presence of bats in caves, attics, ceilings, and roofs is important epidemiologically as they can increase the chance of human acquisition of pathogens, including Histoplasma capsulatum. Brazilian urban areas contain many species of bats, especially insectivorous bats, that are attracted by a wide range of readily available food and shelter. From August 2003 to December 2008, we analysed 2427 bats in the São Paulo State region. Homogenates of the livers and spleens of the bats were plated on specific medium to identify animals infected with H. capsulatum. the fungus was isolated from 87 bats (3.6%). the infected bats were identified as Molossus molossus (74), Nyctinomops macrotis (10), Tadarida brasiliensis (1), Molossus rufus (1) and Eumops glaucinus (1), all insectivorous species. the data presented are a relevant contribution to the epidemiology of H. capsulatum in densely populated urban areas such as in São Paulo State, especially since histoplasmosis is not included in the mandatory disease notification system.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Microbiol, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilZoonosis Control Ctr Municipal São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilInst Oswaldo Cruz Fdn, Immunodiagnost Sect, Lab Mycol, Evandro Chagas Inst Clin Res, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilAlbert Einstein Coll Med, Dept Med, the Bronx, NY USAAlbert Einstein Coll Med, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, the Bronx, NY USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Cell Biol, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Med Mycol Lab, LIM53, HCFMUSP, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Trop Med, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Cell Biol, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 06/58210-7FAPESP: 07/07588-2Web of Scienc