Eradication of Histoplasma Capsulatum from Soil

SUMMARY

Addition of 6–8 inches of clay and shale soil over an area known by repeated sampling to be infested with Histoplasma capsulatum has been successful in reducing the occurrence of the fungus in an area under study. H. capsulatum has been isolated only once from the surface of the soil fill during more than a year of sampling. It was isolated from 2 of 8 specimens taken under the soil fill at the original soil level, indicating some survival of the fungus at that level. The method of soil overlay is suggested as an innocuous and relatively cheap method of reducing the infestation of soil and the resulting exposure of man in selected areas such as limited areas near human residences and small city parks or sidewalk parkings. The permanence of the method is indefinite and obviously is related to lack of contamination of the new surface by bird droppings and subsequent contamination by airborne spores.