biostudies-literatureBernardes JPRANIAID NIH HHSe0033525https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12442369biostudies-literatureUnknown91(9)Caves serve as natural reservoirs for diverse microbial species due to their unique biotic and abiotic conditions. Histoplasma spp. is frequently associated with guano-enriched soil, low luminosity, and high humidity, particularly in Latin America, a region highly endemic for histoplasmosis. Despite the continent's diverse biomes, local environmental and host distributions of Histoplasma remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a Histoplasma-specific quantitative PCR assay targeting the hc100 gene on guano samples from seven bat-inhabited caves and tissue samples from 74 bats of nine species in the Federal District of Brazil and surrounding regions. We detected Histoplasma DNA in 16 of 80 soil samples (20%) and in 33 bats reprApplied and environmental microbiologyMapping Histoplasma spp. in bats and cave ecosystems: evidence from midwestern Brazil.PMC12442369R01 AI153523Paes HCFelipe MSSBueno-Rocha IDde Oliveira LSCharneau STeixeira MdMBernardes JPRAAlves LGdBPaternina CEMSilva Pereira IArenas PHRAguiar LMdSTenorio BGZancope-Oliveira RMNicola AMLucas JMagalhaes EDde Sousa HRErazo FAHMatute DRda Silva RKMfalseMapping Histoplasma spp. in bats and cave ecosystems: evidence from midwestern Brazil.Caves serve as natural reservoirs for diverse microbial species due to their unique biotic and abiotic conditions. Histoplasma spp. is frequently associated with guano-enriched soil, low luminosity, and high humidity, particularly in Latin America, a region highly endemic for histoplasmosis. Despite the continent's diverse biomes, local environmental and host distributions of Histoplasma remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a Histoplasma-specific quantitative PCR assay targeting the hc100 gene on guano samples from seven bat-inhabited caves and tissue samples from 74 bats of nine species in the Federal District of Brazil and surrounding regions. We detected Histoplasma DNA in 16 of 80 soil samples (20%) and in 33 bats repr2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-03T11:18:32.683Z2026-05-29T03:06:04.63ZS-EPMC124423694079377210.1128/aem.00335-25