Histoplasmosis in northwestern Argentina. II: Prevalence of Histoplasmosis capsulati and paracoccidioidomycosis in the population south of Chuscha, Gonzalo and Potrero in the province of Tucuman

Abstract

The present work was undertaken to obtain epidemiological data on the extent and distribution of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum and Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis infections south of the Chuscha, Gonzalo and Potrero areas of Argentina. Skin tests surveys of the human population with histoplasmin and paracoccidioidin were carried out in the permanent population of those localities. The infection index of the population showed that the area south of Chuscha has a high-prevalence of histoplasmosis capsulati. The Gonzalo and Potrero areas, according to their rates of infection also can be considered to have a relatively high prevalence of this disease. The frequency of individuals infected with P. brasiliensis suggests that the level of exposure to this fungus is considerable, especially in Gonzalo where the frequency of infection was 9.23%. The endemic areas of both diseases can be superimposed, as occurs in the northeastern part of Argentina.