Latest news with #Histoplasma
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Eurofins Viracor Launches New Quantitative Real-Time PCR Testing for Rapid and Accurate Detection of Life-Threatening Dimorphic Fungi
LENEXA, Kan., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eurofins Viracor announced today the launch of its new quantitative real-time PCR assays for dimorphic fungi, a significant advancement in the rapid and accurate diagnosis of infections caused by Blastomyces spp., Histoplasma spp., Coccidioides spp., and Cryptococcus (C. gattii and/or C. neoformans). These advanced molecular tests are designed to empower clinicians with timely and reliable diagnostic information, facilitating prompt and targeted treatment for potentially life-threatening fungal infections. Dimorphic fungal infections pose a considerable challenge in clinical settings, often leading to severe illness and increased patient morbidity and mortality due to factors such as diagnostic delays. Traditional diagnostic methods such as culture, serology, and microscopy can be slow, insensitive, or lack specificity, hindering timely therapeutic intervention, especially in immunocompromised patients or those with acute presentations like meningitis or severe pulmonary disease. Key benefits of these new assays include: These new assays address a significant unmet need in the clinical microbiology market by leveraging the power of molecular diagnostics to provide fast, highly sensitive, and specific detection of critical fungal pathogens. Eurofins Viracor's commitment to innovation in infectious disease diagnostics is exemplified by this advancement. For more information about the dimorphic fungal assays and their applications, please visit or contact Client Services at (800) 305-5198. About Eurofins Viracor With over 40 years of diagnostic expertise in infectious disease, immunology and allergy testing for immunocompromised and critical patients, Eurofins Viracor is passionate about delivering accurate, timely and actionable results, never losing sight of the connection between the testing it performs and the patients it serves. Eurofins Viracor is a subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific ( a global leader in bio-analytical testing, and one of the world leaders in genomic services. For more information, please visit and About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis Eurofins is Testing for Life. The Eurofins Scientific SE network of independent companies believes that it is a global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience contract research services. It is also one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in biopharma contract development and manufacturing. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products. With ca. 63,000 staff across a network of more than 950 laboratories in over 1,000 companies in 60 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Scientific SE shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Viracor Eurofins
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Family likely infected with fungal disease after bat-filled cave tour: CDC
(NewsNation) — Twelve of 13 members of one family fell ill upon returning to the United States from a Costa Rica trip in late December. A bat-filled cave could be the culprit for the mystery sickness. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published May 15 found confirmed or likely cases of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection primarily in the lungs, and linked the group's exposure to a bat-colonized cave the family visited on Dec. 24. The group had toured the Venado Caves, a popular tourist destination previously linked to a histoplasmosis outbreak. Histoplasmosis is caused by organisms often found in contaminated soil. 'All reported seeing bats and having direct contact with bat droppings while crawling and squeezing through tight spaces in the cave,' the report said of the likely source of exposure. Man explains first year of life with brain chip The lone family member to not get sick did not tour the cave. The report said, 'No other activities reported before, during, or after the trip were associated with known risk for exposure to Histoplasma species.' The infected individuals, including six adults and six children, returned to Georgia, Texas, and Washington on Dec. 28. According to the CDC, symptoms typically appear three to 17 days after exposure and include fever, cough, fatigue, chills, headache, chest pain, and body aches. Histoplasmosis is similar to other lung infections, or pneumonias. On Jan. 17, an infectious disease doctor in Georgia notified the CDC of suspected histoplasmosis cases. The CDC launched an investigation four days later. 'My embryo's a little fighter;' IVF patients thank heroes after California bombing The CDC warned, 'Persons who have already visited Venado Caves might have been exposed to H. capsulatum, and exposure among visitors might be ongoing.' The agency has been working with the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health to include risks of contracting the disease in cave tour waiver forms. The site was also linked to a 51-person outbreak in 1998 and 1999. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica also issued a health alert to the public in March during its investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
A family visited a bat cave in Costa Rica. They were then infected with a fungal disease.
A family visited a bat cave in Costa Rica. They were then infected with a fungal disease. Show Caption Hide Caption Zoonotic diseases, like monkeypox and COVID-19, are on the rise From monkeypox to COVID-19, zoonotic disease outbreaks are on the rise. Here's how viruses spread from animals to humans. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY A bat cave in Costa Rica is likely the reason a family caught a fungal lung disease known as histoplasmosis. In December of last year, a family of 13 visited Arenal and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, according to the CDC. While there, 12 of the 13 people on the trip visited the Venado Caves, a popular tourist attraction in the Alajuela Province of San Carlos, Costa Rica, according to a report published by the CDC. Each person who visited the cave "became mildly or moderately ill" with the fungal lung infection when they returned to the U.S. to their homes in Georgia, Texas, and Washington. The CDC, along with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, and the Washington State Department of Health, launched a multi-state investigation in January into the cases after a physician in Georgia notified the CDC of suspected cases of histoplasmosis. All of the family members reported seeing bats and stated that they had touched bat droppings while crawling through the cave and "squeezing through tight spaces." Raccoons, foxes, bats ... oh my! Know the animals most prone to rabies and protect yourself. What is histoplasmosis? Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease commonly linked to bats and bird droppings, according to the Mayo Clinic. "The fungus is commonly found growing in damp soil that's rich in organic material," like droppings from the animals mentioned above. It is also commonly found in the following places, according to the Mayo Clinic: Chicken and pigeon coops Old barns Caves Parks How does histoplasmosis spread? People become infected with the fungal disease when they breathe in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma after the soil in which it resides is disturbed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. People are just as likely to contract it from bat droppings as they are from bird droppings. The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC. What are the symptoms of histoplasmosis? Usually, when people breathe in the spores, they do not get sick, according to the CDC. But those who do have it can face mild to life-threatening symptoms of pneumonia. The fungal infection is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late because it can be mistaken for common pneumonia caused by bacteria and viruses. People infected with Histoplasmosis can feel the following, according to the CDC: Fever Cough Extreme tiredness Chills Headache Chest pain People with weakened immune systems could also develop a long-term lung infection, which, on rare cases, could spread to the brain and spinal cord. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A family visited a bat cave in Costa Rica. They were then infected with a fungal disease.
A bat cave in Costa Rica is likely the reason a family caught a fungal lung disease known as histoplasmosis. In December, a family of 13 visited Arenal and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, according to the CDC. While there, 12 of the 13 people on the trip visited the Venado Caves, a popular tourist attraction in the Alajuela Province of San Carlos, Costa Rica, according to a report published by the CDC. Each person who visited the cave "became mildly or moderately ill" with the fungal lung infection when they returned to the U.S. to their homes in Georgia, Texas, and Washington. The CDC, along with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, and the Washington State Department of Health, launched a multi-state investigation in January into the cases after a physician in Georgia notified the CDC of suspected cases of histoplasmosis. All of the family members reported seeing bats and stated that they had touched bat droppings while crawling through the cave and "squeezing through tight spaces." Raccoons, foxes, bats ... oh my! Know the animals most prone to rabies and protect yourself. Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease commonly linked to bats and bird droppings, according to the Mayo Clinic. "The fungus is commonly found growing in damp soil that's rich in organic material," like droppings from the animals mentioned above. It is also commonly found in the following places, according to the Mayo Clinic: Chicken and pigeon coops Old barns Caves Parks People become infected with the fungal disease when they breathe in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma after the soil in which it resides is disturbed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. People are just as likely to contract it from bat droppings as they are from bird droppings. The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC. Usually, when people breathe in the spores, they do not get sick, according to the CDC. But those who do have it can face mild to life-threatening symptoms of pneumonia. The fungal infection is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late because it can be mistaken for common pneumonia caused by bacteria and viruses. People infected with Histoplasmosis can feel the following, according to the CDC: Fever Cough Extreme tiredness Chills Headache Chest pain People with weakened immune systems could also develop a long-term lung infection, which, on rare cases, could spread to the brain and spinal cord. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Family infected with histoplasmosis after visiting Costa Rica bat cave
