Homegrown weed lovers beware: there are some fertilizers that you should probably avoid.
Researchers at the University of Rochester detailed the unusual infections in a case reportpublishedearlier this month.
Histoplasmosisbegins as a lung infection because of inhaling spores of theHistoplasmafungus (typically the speciesHistoplasma capsulatum).
Bat guano could expose people, especially local cannabis growers, to Histoplasma fungus, doctors warn in a new case report.© milehightraveler via Getty
These infections arent contagious and can be only caught from environmental sources of the fungus.
The fungus isprimarily foundin the central and eastern U.S., living in the soil.
But these latest cases appear to show that bat guano itself can be a deadly carrier of histoplasmosis.
Despite treatment, they eventually died from complications of the infection.
But neither federal nor local agencies appear to currently test commercially sold guano for the fungus.
It is crucial to raise awareness among physicians and patients to reinforce personal preventive measures and establish timely diagnosis.
Commercial biofertilizers containing bat guano should be tested forHistoplasma capsulatumbefore reaching the market, they wrote.
If testing is not feasible, risk mitigation strategies should be implemented.
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