Occurrence of Histoplasma Capsulatum Darling, 1906 in Israel, with a Review of the Current Status of Histoplasmosis in the Middle East

The isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from a bat cave in the Galilee region of Israel is reported along with the discovery of a bat (Myotis myotis) infected by H. capsulatum. Soils collected in avian and chiropteran habitats throughout Israel also yielded the following fungi of medical interest: Arthroderma quadrifidum, A. tuberculatum, Candida parapsilosis, Chrysosporium indicum, C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, Cryptococcus neoformans, Ctenomyces serratus, Microsporum gypseum, and Petriellidium boydii. All available reports concerning the occurrence of H. capsulatum and histoplasmosis in the Middle East are critically reviewed.