Word: histoplasma
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Dates: during 1961-1961
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...Milan in 1958, schoolchildren had been given scratches on both arms: one for the tuberculin test, the other for histoplasmosis. This disease, which is like TB in the variety of its effects-ranging from an undetectable, mild infection to fulminating and rapidly fatal cases-is caused by a fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. Unrecognized until 50 years ago, histoplasmosis is still often mistaken for, and mistakenly treated as, TB. It is now known to be especially common in the mid-continent states. But Milan's infection rate turned out to be an astonishing 62%, contrasted with 8% in adjoining towns...
This ground was more than usually fertile for Histoplasma, Dr. Dodge found, because in the late summer and early fall, starlings used the treetops as a dormitory. Their droppings, which covered the ground, have the right chemical composition and acidity for Histoplasma to flourish. In cities starlings usually roost in buildings, but even where they stay in trees the terrain underneath is generally lawn or pavement; Milan just happened to offer the right circumstances. To make Milan's school parking lot and playground inhospitable to Histoplasma, the town will blacktop them as soon as the frost...
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