Background
Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection in humans, dogs, cats, and other animals. Blastomyces dermatitidis, exists as a mold in nature and is generally acquired through the inhalation of spores that transform to the yeast forms in the lungs. The ecology of this fungus is incompletely defined due to lack of reliable skin testing, infrequent environmental isolations, significant rates of asymptomatic disease, and uncertain incubation periods of the disease. Thus, case clusters provide valuable opportunities to further understand the environmental niche of B.dermatitidis.
Objectives
- Add to existing knowledge of the ecology and epidemiology of B. dermatitidis.
- Raise awareness of this disease in urban and other “non-classic” settings and to identify environmental risk factors.
Design
Designs including retrospective/prospective chart reviews, telephone interviews, geocoding, case studies, fieldwork and basic research.
Findings
- There is evidence to support the possibility that humans and animals may acquire B. dermatitis in or very near one’s home regardless of one’s population density.
- There is a lack of geographic epidemiologic and basic ecological data regarding B. dermatitis. This data is essential to describe the risk factors for this environmentally acquired disease.
Implications
Clinicians must take care to include B. dermatititis in the diagnosis of any humans or animal with suggestive symptoms that have a history of travel to an endemic area, even if that individual is primarily homebound or in an urban area.
Investigators and Staff
Aurora UW Medical Group
- Dennis Baumgardner, M.D.
- Charles F. Brummitt, M.D.
- Brian P. Buggy, M.D.
- John Meidl, M.D.
Milwaukee Health Department
- Geoffrey R. Swain, M.D., M.P.H
Vilas County Health Department
Eagle River Animal Hospital
- Daniel P. Paretsky, D.V.M.
Center for Urban Population Health
- Zack Baeseman, B.S.
- Maggie Evans, B.S.
- Melissa Lemke, B.A.
