Where are H. capsulatum spores found?
H. capsulatum grows in soils throughout the world. In the United States, the fungus is endemic (more prevalent) and the proportion of people infected by H. capsulatum is higher in central and eastern states, especially along the valleys of the Ohio, Mississippi, St. Lawrence rivers, and the Rio Grande. The fungus seems to grow best in soils having a high nitrogen content, especially those enriched with bat droppings or bird manure. Disturbances of contaminated material cause small H. capsulatum spores to become airborne or aerosolized. Once airborne, spores can easily be carried by wind currents over long distances.
