The focal occurrence of histoplasmosis in house-dwelling bats on the Isthmus of Panama

Histoplasma capsulatum was recovered from organs and fecal contents of 26 of 807 (3.2%) house bats (Molossus major) captured from 14 sites on the Isthmus of Panama. All positive bats came from 2 of these sites. H. capsulatum was recovered from 2 soil samples taken from one of the sites where the bats were culturally positive. The etiology of these positive soil areas is discussed. Temperature measurements in the bat roosts and of the bats themselves revealed that Molossus are neither homeothermic nor heterothermic. In their normal environment their body temperature may be as high as 40–42°C. The relationship of these temperature measurements to prior concepts of H. capsulatum growth in avians is discussed.