The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplasmosis, disease of public health importance. The aim of this study was to determine its presence in faeces of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in the city of Lima, Peru. Faecal samples (n=245) were collected, processed and cultivated in Sabouraud agar at 37 and 28 °C for 2 to 4 weeks approximately. The colonies were identified by macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Only 0.41% (1/245) of samples were positive to H. capsulatum, while the beta-pert (@Risk) stochastic simulation showed a minimum prevalence of 0.369% and a maximum prevalence of 0.451%.

The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplasmosis, disease of public health importance. The aim of this study was to determine its presence in faeces of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in the city of Lima, Peru. Faecal samples (n=245) were collected, processed and cultivated in Sabouraud agar at 37 and 28 °C for 2 to 4 weeks approximately. The colonies were identified by macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Only 0.41% (1/245) of samples were positive to H. capsulatum, while the beta-pert (@Risk) stochastic simulation showed a minimum prevalence of 0.369% and a maximum prevalence of 0.451%.

El hongo Histoplasma capsulatum es el agente causal de la histoplasmosis, enfermedad de importancia en salud pública. El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar la presencia del hongo Histoplasma capsulatum en las heces de palomas domésticas (Columba livia) de la ciudad de Lima, Perú. Se recolectaron muestras de excretas de palomas castilla y palomas mensajeras de la ciudad de Lima. Las muestras fueron procesadas en el laboratorio de microbiología de la Universidad Científica del Sur, fueron incubadas a 3rC y a temperatura ambiente durante 2 a 4 semanas aproximadamente, para finalmente ser identificadas por características macroscópicas y microscópicas. De las 245 muestras de heces secas de palomas mensajeras y de Castilla, se obtuvo 0.41% (1/245) de muestras positivas a Histoplasma capsulatum. El programa de simulación estocástica beta-pert (@Risk) determinó una prevalenc...