Histoplasma capsulatum infection is carried on by ingesting the spores, which are frequently found in the excrement of bats and birds. Often, when these spores become airborne during construction or cleanup tasks, people contract them by breathing.
Farmers and landscapers are more likely to contract histoplasmosis if they work in soil that has been polluted by bird or bat droppings. The majority of histoplasmosis sufferers never experience symptoms and are unaware of their infection.
Nonetheless, Histoplasma capsulatum infection can be life-threatening for some people, particularly babies and those with compromised immune systems. Even the most severe cases of histoplasmosis can be treated.