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Rare pulmonary disease found in rural areas in Alberta

Last Updated Mar 18, 2021 at 8:48 am MDT

A microscopic look at Histoplasmosis.

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Researchers have found a rare pulmonary disease in rural areas of Alberta.

Infectious disease experts at Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) and the University of Alberta confirmed that Histoplasmosis, a fungal infection transmitted through bat and bird droppings, has been found in the province.

“We were surprised at how many cases were locally acquired, as Histoplasmosis has always been considered a travel-related infection,” said Dr. Tanis Dingle with APL. “We now know that it is definitely living in Alberta and has the potential to infect people who come in contact with it.”

Researchers said the fungus can be found in contaminated dust particles and when inhaled, patients experience respiratory infections with flu-like symptoms, like cough, fever, chills and headache.

Cases are typically related to people who have come in contact with bat or bird droppings in old homes, churches, construction sites and parks.

Among 45 confirmed cases of Histoplasmosis in Alberta between 2011 and 2018, the researchers found that 15 of the cases were locally-acquired. The cases were primarily found in rural areas in central Alberta including Sundre, Stettler, Stony Plain and Spruce Grove.

“Knowing that Histoplasmosis is here can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients who have no history of travel to the traditional risk areas,” said Dr. Ilan Schwartz with the University of Alberta.

“Histoplasmosis can be a challenging disease to diagnose and to treat, and patients often spend months before the correct diagnosis is made. Awareness that the disease is here is an essential first step for doctors to be able to consider the diagnosis and order the appropriate tests.”

Researchers are also looking at whether climate change could be a factor in the spread of the disease as temperatures have increased and precipitation decreased over the past several decades, leading to more favourable conditions for Histoplasmosis to live in soils.

The team is still investigating soil samples to find other areas in Alberta where the disease may be present.