{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T00:43:02Z","timestamp":1759970582919,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]],"date-time":"2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737763200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"RumiRes: Epidemiological Surveillance and Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance and Drug Residues in Small Ruminants in the Central Region","award":["PRR-C05-i03-I-000190"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PRR-C05-i03-I-000190"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Histoplasmosis, caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, poses health risks to various mammals, including humans. Bats are primary wild carriers of Histoplasma capsulatum, playing a crucial role in its epidemiology. However, fecal shedding in Europe remains poorly studied, with no data available for Portugal. This study analyzed 285 guano samples from 22 bat species, collected across Portuguese regions between 2014 and 2018, using a nested PCR assay. Despite using a sensitive method, no positive samples were detected. These results align with other European studies, suggesting that Histoplasma capsulatum circulates at low levels in European bat populations. However, they contrast with findings from regions like Brazil and Mexico, where the fungus is more prevalent due to differing geographic, climatic, and ecological factors. The absence of Histoplasma capsulatum in Portuguese bat guano highlights the importance of local environmental conditions and raises questions about its distribution in Europe. Although bats can harbor zoonotic pathogens, our findings suggest they do not shed Histoplasma capsulatum in Portugal. Continuous monitoring and research are essential in understanding infectious disease dynamics. Targeted surveillance in caves could improve early detection and management strategies for potential histoplasmosis outbreaks, contributing to public health efforts in these ecosystems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12020094","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,28]],"date-time":"2025-01-28T08:57:48Z","timestamp":1738054668000},"page":"94","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Histoplasma capsulatum in Bat Species in Portugal"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1324-8902","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jaqueline T.","family":"Bento","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7196-4179","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Cl\u00e1udia","family":"Coelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-Os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Hugo","family":"Rebelo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Campus de Vair\u00e3o, 4485-661 Vair\u00e3o, Portugal"},{"name":"CE3C\u2014Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE\u2014Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8769-8103","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o R.","family":"Mesquita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro de Estudos de Ci\u00eancia Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ci\u00eancias, Tecnologias e Agroambiente (ICETA), Universidade do Porto (UP), Rua D. Manuel II, Apartado 55142, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wilmes, D., Mayer, U., Wohlsein, P., Suntz, M., Gerkrath, J., Schulze, C., Holst, I., von Bomhard, W., and Rickerts, V. (2022). Animal Histoplasmosis in Europe: Review of the Literature and Molecular Typing of the Etiological Agents. J. Fungi, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/jof8080833"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1007\/s40475-015-0044-0","article-title":"Histoplasmosis Infections Worldwide: Thinking Outside of the Ohio River Valley","volume":"2","author":"Bahr","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Trop. Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"758","DOI":"10.1111\/tbed.13740","article-title":"Molecular Detection of Histoplasma Capsulatum in Bats of the Amazon Biome in Par\u00e1 State, Brazil","volume":"68","author":"Scofield","year":"2021","journal-title":"Transbound. Emerg. Dis."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mib.2007.04.002","article-title":"Dimorphism and Virulence in Fungi","volume":"10","author":"Klein","year":"2007","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oladele, R.O., Ayanlowo, O.O., Richardson, M.D., and Denning, D.W. (2018). Histoplasmosis in Africa: An Emerging or a Neglected Disease?. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 12.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006046"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00053-10","article-title":"Histopathologic Diagnosis of Fungal Infections in the 21st Century","volume":"24","author":"Jeannette","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"964","DOI":"10.1080\/00275514.1985.12025187","article-title":"Histoplasma Capsulatum Variety Farciminosum: A New Combination for Histoplasma Farciminosum","volume":"77","author":"Weeks","year":"1985","journal-title":"Mycologia"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kidd, S.E., Abdolrasouli, A., and Hagen, F. (2023). Fungal Nomenclature: Managing Change Is the Name of the Game. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/ofid\/ofac559"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"10-1128","article-title":"Genome Sequences Reveal Cryptic Speciation in the Human Pathogen Histoplasma Capsulatum","volume":"8","author":"Turissini","year":"2017","journal-title":"MBio"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1355","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.55.6.1355-1358.1987","article-title":"Morphogenesis and Pathogenicity of Histoplasma Capsulatum","volume":"55","author":"Medoff","year":"1987","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3543","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.62.8.3543-3546.1994","article-title":"Altered Expression of Surface Alpha-1,3-Glucan in Genetically Related Strains of Blastomyces Dermatitidis That Differ in Virulence","volume":"62","author":"Hogan","year":"1994","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7444","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.173.12.7444","article-title":"Exploiting Type 3 Complement Receptor for TNF-Alpha Suppression, Immune Evasion, and Progressive Pulmonary Fungal Infection","volume":"173","author":"Brandhorst","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1384","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.57.5.1384-1390.1989","article-title":"Variable Expression of a Yeast-Phase-Specific Gene in Histoplasma Capsulatum Strains Differing in Thermotolerance and Virulence","volume":"57","author":"Keath","year":"1989","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"p.myae039","DOI":"10.1093\/mmy\/myae039","article-title":"Histoplasmosis: A Systematic Review to Inform the World Health Organization of a Fungal Priority Pathogens List","volume":"62","author":"Dao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Antinori, S., Giacomelli, A., Corbellino, M., Torre, A., Schiuma, M., Casalini, G., Parravicini, C., Milazzo, L., Gervasoni, C., and Ridolfo, A.L. (2021). Histoplasmosis Diagnosed in Europe and Israel: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature from 2005 to 2020. J. Fungi, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/jof7060481"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e83","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268824000657","article-title":"Molecular Detection of Histoplasma Capsulatum in Organ Samples from Bats Randomly Captured in Urban Areas of Araraquara, S\u00e3o Paulo State, Brazil","volume":"152","author":"Taylor","year":"2024","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00027-06","article-title":"Histoplasmosis: A Clinical and Laboratory Update","volume":"20","author":"Kauffman","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02098476","article-title":"Disseminated Histoplasmosis in an AIDS Patient in Spain","volume":"12","author":"Alados","year":"1993","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"151","article-title":"Histoplasmin Sensitivity among a Student Population in Crema, Po Valley, Italy","volume":"17","author":"Confalonieri","year":"1994","journal-title":"New Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"421","article-title":"Histoplasmosis in Europe","volume":"52","author":"Mantovani","year":"1972","journal-title":"Ann. Soc. Belg. Med. Trop. (1920)"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.2010.00866.x","article-title":"Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a Cat in Europe","volume":"51","author":"Mavropoulou","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Small Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"484","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trstmh.2012.05.003","article-title":"Histoplasmosis in HIV-Positive Patients in Cear\u00e1, Brazil: Clinical-Laboratory Aspects and in Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Histoplasma Capsulatum Isolates","volume":"106","author":"Brilhante","year":"2012","journal-title":"Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nacher, M., Adenis, A., Mc Donald, S., Do Socorro Mendonca Gomes, M., Singh, S., Lopes Lima, I., Malcher Leite, R., Hermelijn, S., Wongsokarijo, M., and Van Eer, M. (2013). Disseminated Histoplasmosis in HIV-Infected Patients in South America: A Neglected Killer Continues on Its Rampage. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 7.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002319"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vite-Gar\u00edn, T., Estrada-B\u00e1rcenas, D.A., Gernandt, D.S., Reyes-Montes, M.D.R., Sahaza, J.H., Canteros, C.E., Ram\u00edrez, J.A., Rodr\u00edguez-Arellanes, G., Serra-Damasceno, L., and Zancop\u00e9-Oliveira, R.M. (2021). Histoplasma Capsulatum Isolated from Tadarida Brasiliensis Bats Captured in Mexico Form a Sister Group to North American Class 2 Clade. J. Fungi, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/jof7070529"},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"937","article-title":"Molecular Detection of Histoplasma Capsulatum in Insectivorous and Frugivorous Bats in Southeastern Brazil","volume":"56","author":"Langoni","year":"2018","journal-title":"Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1225","DOI":"10.1099\/jmm.0.000340","article-title":"Yeasts from the Microbiota of Bats: A Focus on the Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Cryptic Species of Candida","volume":"65","author":"Brilhante","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1708-8305.2008.00193.x","article-title":"Bat-Associated Histoplasmosis Can Be Transmitted at Entrances of Bat Caves and Not Only inside the Caves","volume":"15","author":"Elias","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Travel Med."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wem.2018.06.008","article-title":"Environmental and Wilderness-Related Risk Factors for Histoplasmosis: More Than Bats in Caves","volume":"29","author":"Diaz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Wilderness Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"myad080","DOI":"10.1093\/mmy\/myad080","article-title":"Infection of Bats with Histoplasma Species","volume":"61","author":"Gugnani","year":"2023","journal-title":"Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.7484","article-title":"Two Outbreaks of Occupationally Acquired Histoplasmosis: More than Workers at Risk","volume":"113","author":"Huhn","year":"2005","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1590\/S1806-37132006000400018","article-title":"An Outbreak of Histoplasmosis in the City of Blumenau, Santa Catarina","volume":"32","author":"Oliveira","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Bras. Pneumol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1642","DOI":"10.1017\/S095026881000289X","article-title":"Isolation of Histoplasma Capsulatum from Bats in the Urban Area of S\u00e3o Paulo State, Brazil","volume":"139","author":"Dias","year":"2011","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1093\/occmed\/kqs191","article-title":"Acute Histoplasmosis in Three Mexican Sewer Workers","volume":"63","author":"Santos","year":"2013","journal-title":"Occup. Med."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"254","article-title":"Histoplasmosis outbreak in Mor\u00f3n, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina","volume":"42","author":"Negroni","year":"2010","journal-title":"Rev. Argent. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1638\/1042-7260-44.1.15","article-title":"Molecular Detection of Histoplasma Capsulatum in the Lung of a Free-Ranging Common Noctule (NYC-Talus Noctula) from France Using the Hcp100 Gene","volume":"44","author":"Demanche","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Zoo Wildl. Med."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1080\/13693780400006096","article-title":"Chrysosporium Chiropterorum Sp. Nov., Isolated in France, Resembling Chrysosporium State of Ajellomyces Capsulatus (Histoplasma capsulatum)","volume":"43","author":"Beguin","year":"2005","journal-title":"Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e10246","DOI":"10.1002\/ece3.10246","article-title":"Changing with the Times: Seasonal Environmental Gradients Unveil Dynamic Bat Assemblages and Vulnerability","volume":"13","author":"Raposeira","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ecol. Evol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rebelo, H., Ferreira, S., Amorim, F., Horta, P., Raposeira, H., Santos, H., Beja, P., and Mata, V.A. (2020). Hidden in Our Pockets: Building of a DNA Barcode Library Unveils the First Record of Myotis Alcathoe for Portugal. Biodivers. Data J., 8.","DOI":"10.3897\/BDJ.8.e54479"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1644","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.40.5.1644-1647.2002","article-title":"Evaluation of Two Nested PCR Assays for Detection of Histoplasma Capsulatum DNA in Human Tissue","volume":"40","author":"Bialek","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"697","DOI":"10.1007\/s11046-021-00588-4","article-title":"Pulmonary Histoplasmosis","volume":"186","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mycopathologia"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"914","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1999.61.914","article-title":"Environmental Conditions Favoring Bat Infection with Histoplasma Capsulatum in Mexican Shelters","volume":"61","author":"Taylor","year":"1999","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1007\/s11046-013-9641-4","article-title":"Isolated Oral Histoplasmosis Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin in a Portuguese Hemodialysis Patient","volume":"176","author":"Marques","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mycopathologia"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mmcr.2017.04.003","article-title":"Tonsillar Ulceration as Manifestation of Disseminated African Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Portuguese Host","volume":"17","author":"Cardoso","year":"2017","journal-title":"Med. Mycol. Case Rep."}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/12\/2\/94\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:36:05Z","timestamp":1759919765000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/12\/2\/94"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci12020094"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci12020094","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2306-7381"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]}}}