Estimation of the number of viable particles of Histoplasma capsulatum in soil.

Abstract

Serial dilutions of suspensions of soil samples positive forH. capsulatum were made and injected intravenously into mice. The dilution producing infection in 50 % of the mice injected (ID50) was determined for each sample and provided a measure for quantitative comparisons. A known number of viable particles ofH. capsulatum was added to soil, and serial dilutions were made of the suspension and injected into mice to determine that dilution containing an ID50. One ID50 was calculated to contain 1.6 viable particles ofH. capsulatum per ml of inoculum. With the assumption that one ID50 of unknown samples contained 1.6 viable particles per ml inoculum, the total number of viable particles per gram of soil in several sites was calculated. The total number of viable particles ofH. capsulatum per gram of soil in different sites ranged from 101 to 201,900, almost a two thousandfold difference. Now that the number of viable particles ofH. capsulatum in positive sites can be determined, it may be possible to determine the concentration of particles necessary to make sites significant sources of infection.