Identification of the source of histoplasmosis infection in two captive maras (Dolichotis patagonum) from the same colony by using molecular and immunologic assays

Rev Argent Microbiol. 2009 Apr-Jun;41(2):102-4.

Abstract

Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated from the spleen of a first infected mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and from a second mara's liver and adrenal gland, both in the same colony at the Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico. Studies of H. capsulatum isolates, using nested-PCR of a 100-kDa protein coding gene (Hcp100) fragment and a two-primer RAPD-PCR method, suggest that these isolates were spreading in the environment of the maras' enclosure. By using a Dot-ELISA method, sera from mice inoculated with three homogenates of soil samples from the maras' enclosed space developed positive brown spot reactions to a purified H. capsulatum antigen, which identified the probable source of the maras' infection.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Birds / microbiology
  • Chiroptera / microbiology
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • Disease Reservoirs / microbiology*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Histoplasma / classification
  • Histoplasma / genetics
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Histoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Histoplasmosis / microbiology
  • Histoplasmosis / veterinary*
  • Housing, Animal
  • Liver / microbiology
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology
  • Rodent Diseases / microbiology*
  • Rodentia / microbiology*
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Spleen / microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal