PCR/DNA Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, December 6, 2024

This past summer, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health published an animal health advisory about 18 cats and 6 dogs that acquired a fungal infection known as histoplasmosis. The cases came from a wide geographic range, including the San Fernando Valley, Crescenta Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Southeast LA County, and the South Bay area. 

Histoplasmosis is the name for an infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in soil or other materials that contain large amounts of bird or bat droppings.

This same serious infection can also impact humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that Histoplasma spores circulate in the air after contaminated materials are disturbed. When people breathe in the spores, they are at risk of developing histoplasmosis. Fortunately, most people who are exposed to Histoplasma never have symptoms and others may have symptoms that go away on their own. Symptoms may appear between 3 and 17 days after exposure and could include fever, cough, fatigue, chills, headache, chest pain, and body aches. The very young, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing severe forms of the infection.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) cautions that anyone who works with or near materials contaminated with Histoplasma could develop histoplasmosis. Examples of workers listed by NIOSH potentially at risk include:

• Construction, demolition, and renovation workers
• Farmers
• Landscapers
• Bridge workers

“Outbreaks have been known to occur in the workplace even with workers not directly involved in the activities that caused the outbreak,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Interestingly, NIOSH reports that about a third of the histoplasmosis outbreaks in the U.S. are work-related.”

To protect workers, building occupants, and the public, there are ways to test the environment for the presence of Histoplasma. In California, LA Testing offers environmental testing services and sampling supplies for Histoplasma and many other microbial pathogens and airborne pollutants. They have even sponsored an educational video about histoplasmosis and Histoplasma exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/ay-uv9Bt1DE

To learn more about this or other infection control and environmental testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.