Scientists find evidence of fungal organism Histoplasma capsulatum in Antarctica DNA fungi Genome Histoplasmosis InfectiousDiseases Histoplasmacapsulatum Antarctica CDC_NCEZID Sydney_Uni Fiocruz CurtinUni
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanSep 20 2022Reviewed by Aimee Molineux In a recent study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, scientists detected Histoplasma capsulatum deoxyribonucleic acid in soil and penguin fecal samples in Antarctica, highlighting the harmful effects of increased human activity on the continent.
Histoplasma capsulatum belongs to the order Onygenales and is known to cause systemic mycosis in many regions of Africa, North America, South Asia, and central and south America, with the incidence highest in Latin America. Recent whole-genome studies have proposed four genetically different Histoplasma species — H. capsulatum , H. mississippiense , H. ohiense , and H. suramericanum .
About the study In the present study, the researchers collected soil samples and penguin and fur seal fecal samples from an Antarctic Special Protected Area on King George Island known as Potter Peninsula. Potter Peninsula, being a protected area, is home to many migratory birds during the summer months and plays host to bird and breeding marine mammal colonies. All the faunal activity has resulted in soil rich in nitrogen, calcium, phosphorous, and organic carbon.