a survey of 800 bats for isolation of histoplasma capsulatum in iran

clinical cases of histoplasmosis have been reported from many parts of the world principally from the usa and to a lesser extent from central and south america. sporadic cases are recorded in medical literature from europe, africa and asia. histoplasma capsulatum, the etiologic agen of histoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan geophilic fungus associated with avian and chiroptera. the association of bats with cases of histoplasmosis in man and the isolation of histoplasma caplulatum from organs and feces fo naturally infected bats suggest that certain species of chiroptera may play a role in the epidemiology of histoplasmosi. for this purpose during 12 months between 1994 and 1995 a total of 800 bats representing 3 genous include myotic, rhinolophus and sherbersi were examined from 2 caves in the north and west in iran. the methods were based on direct examination, culture and inoculation to animals and histoplasma capsulatum was not isolated.