Which zoonotic fungal disease is transmitted through inhalation of spores?

• A. Histoplasmosis
• B. Aspergillosis
• C. Coccidioidomycosis
• D. Cryptococcosis

Answer: (B)

Histoplasmosis is the classic fungal disease transmitted by inhaling airborne spores from environments contaminated with wildlife droppings, especially bird and bat guano. Histoplasma capsulatum colonies grow in soil enriched by these droppings, and when that soil is disturbed—such as in caves, old buildings, or roosting sites—the spores become aerosolized and can be inhaled, causing pulmonary infection that can be mild or progress to disseminated disease in susceptible animals. This inhalation route from wildlife-associated environments is what makes it a notable zoonotic risk for wildlife rehabilitators who work in areas with bird or bat habitats. The other fungi can cause lung infections after inhaling spores, but their primary exposure patterns aren’t as strongly tied to wildlife droppings or animal-to-human transmission in typical rehab settings.