On the homestead, you can typically catch it as you clean out the poop by stiring up the funal spores during the process. Histoplasmosis is an infectious (yet non-contagious) fungal disease that is caused by the spread of the spores of a fungus named Histoplasma capsulatum. Therefore, you should use some other kind of bedding, like shredded paper or straw, to keep your chickens comfortable. You may need to put up spike strips or some other barrier so they can’t roost or perch atop your chicken coop. For example, inhalation of dust aerosolized from the dirt floors of chicken coops that contained H. capsulatum spores was reported more than 30 years ago as the cause of clinical cases of histoplasmosis in workers. Even if you don't count the coop, the feed and bedding are monthly expenses that add up a lot! Histoplasmosis and chickens. © 2020 New Life On A Homestead | Homesteading Blog, The 12 Permaculture Principles and How to Apply Them. It can be contracted when you dig in the soil. develop a chronic form of histoplasmosis. Make sure you wash your hands and ideally shower after working in your garden, too. Histoplasmosis is usually only a serious condition for people with compromised immune systems and infants. Many scientists believe that a chicken coop bedded with dirt or sand (or those that simply have dirt floors) are more likely to be contaminated by Histoplasmosis fungus. People who have an underlying lung disease, such as emphysema, may Yes it's all birds, not just chickens. Each year, it’s believed that around 250,000 people will be infected each year in the United States alone. All rights reserved.. Theme images by. After MUCH research, here's the dealio. A well-ventilated coop is a healthier coop, and it can also prevent the spread of histoplasmosis. If you have a chronic lung disease, like emphysema, your symptoms can develop into a more chronic form of histoplasmosis, too. However since keeping chickens entail things like cleaning the coop which stirs up chicken poop and bedding dust, you have a higher chance of catching histoplasmosis from your chickens then from random wild birds. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prevention of histoplasmosis relies on avoiding exposure to dust in a contaminated environment. As always, good sanitation and proper animal husbandry practices will go a long way in keeping you and your animals safe! They just create the environment for the fungus to grow. That’s sad news, as it seems as though everywhere you turn these days, there are more dark headlines about all the diseases going around that has the potential to kill you. When this disease becomes chronic, it often looks a lot like tuberculosis. He had to have one lobe of his lung removed. After cleaning the coop, you may want to change your clothes. Raising backyard chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience, but you might end up raising more than just chicks. High-nitrogen poop, as in chickens, bats, some birds encourage growth of the fungus. Keep an eye out for bats, too. Prevention of histoplasmosis relies on avoiding exposure to dust in a contaminated environment. Histoplasmosis is an infectious, but non-contagious fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. Living in a rural area, I feel as though I am more or less buffered from the severity of many of these illnesses. This site may earn commissions when you click on certain links. In fact, many people that do contract histoplasmosis will think they have a mild cold or the flu. Persons working in contaminated areas should use protective clothing such as gloves and coveralls. Although this disease, spread by spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, is extremely uncommon where I live, in New York, it is very common in the central and southern portions of the United States. Although bats can be helpful when it comes to eliminating mosquito and other pest populations, you don’t want them hanging around the house, garden, or chicken coop too much. It’s important to note that bats are other creatures that can be infected because they have a lower body temperature. Taking a steamy shower after being exposed to a dusty chicken coop can help to clear the respiratory system. We all make mistakes in life, and usually you just learn from it and move on. Hopefully, this article hasn’t scared you – but instead enlightened you on the dangers of histoplasmosis. Many doctors will recommend staying out of chicken coops if you have a weakened immune system. This disease is common in chicken coops and although chickens can’t catch it themselves, they can easily pass on the spores to you. The fungal spores exist practically everywhere in the world, but what’s interesting in that areas where the fungus is most common (like the river valleys mentioned above), up to 80% of people will show some kind of antibody response to the fungus, meaning they’ve been exposed to it at some point in their lives.Who Can Get Sick from Histoplasmosis? There are other signs of chronic histoplasmosis to look out for, like a cough that produces blood and severe weight loss. They populate the air as spores and enter the human body through the respiratory system. It can have serious complications though so please, see the mayo clinic link above for more information or if you think you may have contracted histoplasmosis. At first, the symptoms it causes are not severe but in actuality, histoplasmosis is acute. Histoplasmosis is sometimes referred to as “cave disease” because it is often spread by bats, too. Head to the doctor’s immediately. In fact, many people that do contract histoplasmosis will think they have a mild cold or the flu. These can include chills, fever, headache, dry cough, muscle aches, chest discomfort, and fatigue. If you are exposed to any kind of bat or bird droppings and you have a weakened immune system, be aware of these symptoms. Good management practices are key to helping to keep your chickens (and you!) As you clean the coop you stir up these spores in the chicken poop and they become airborne, and you can then breathe them into your lungs. However, if your symptoms are severe – or if it becomes chronic or disseminated – you will need to seek treatment with antifungal drugs. With various diseases and viruses spread across the planet, I feel lucky to be as sheltered as I am on my farm. Or maybe we eat so many eggs becau... Chickens can be expensive. You’ll just have to let it run its course. How I make $1,000 a month from 15 chickens. Yes, you can catch histoplasmosis, and not just from your chickens, but fron other birds as well. You should assume any link is an affiliate link. Ultimately, although your chickens can’t get sick from histoplasmosis, you can – so it’s vital that you take the necessary precaution to protect yourself from this disease. On the homestead, you can typically catch it as you clean out the poop by stiring up the funal spores during the process. The spores thrive in damp soil that’s rich in organic matter, like bird and bat droppings. If you think you may have contracted histoplasmosis you can see your doctor for a test. Histoplasmosis can be either mild, like the flu, or severe and in some cases affect your eyes. Nevertheless, there are some unique risk factors to raising your own animals and growing your own food that you need to be aware of. Histoplasmosis causes mild to severe symptoms that usually appear about three to seventeen days after exposure. It's really a sneaky disease and often not diagnosed right away since exposure was often years before serious symptoms show up. However, since your body has experienced the disease before, you’re less likely to get it as severely. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease affects primarily the lungs. It has reported commonly in birds at zoos, and occasionally in chickens and turkeys. When I put the baby Guinea fowl into the chicken run again this morning I noticed they looked kinda, well....bored! We are enrolled in the Amazon Associates program, so we may earn a commission if you purchase something from Amazon after clicking one of our links. Therefore, it’s critical that you take precautions if you work with chickens, who are known to carry the spores that can make you sick (yet are unaffected themselves). 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