Histoplasmosis

[Rogers BY Farm]

Has anyone gotten histoplasmosis from your chickens? Interested in preventive measures. Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had to look this up. It seems you should wear a mask when cleaning up to avoid it. I personally didn't even know about it.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I thought that was a tick borne illness.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I thought that was a tick borne illness.

I think you mean anaplasmosis? My dogs have had that. There's also Erlichiosis, to name another. So many of those nasty tick diseases.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I think you mean anaplasmosis? My dogs have had that. There's also Erlichiosis, to name another. So many of those nasty tick diseases.

Yeah, I had Lyme disease.

 

[Sammster]

I had to look this up. It seems you should wear a mask when cleaning up to avoid it. I personally didn't even know about it.

I didn't know about it, either. Gosh! I do have a respirator mask, from working with glass. Maybe I should use that when cleaning the coop and pen

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, wear at least a N95 face mask, or a good respirator, when cleaning the coop, or treating birds for mites or lice.
There's so much dust out there, regardless of the risk of Histoplasmosis, that protecting your lungs is a big deal.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

It's a more common disease along the Ohio river valley, besides being a problem in poultry housing. And often not diagnosed early...
A gooc friend of ours died of it a few years ago, after a long illness. And she never had chickens.
Mary

 

[FoxySonia]

Glad someone has posted about Histoplasmosis. I just learned about it, and I've had chickens for over 3 years now, so I've probably been exposed and have had symptoms of Histoplasmosis in the past and confused them for a cold. Chickens produce a lot of dust, from the dander they shed daily, and from scratching around their bedding, sand and dirt on the ground when they are dustbathing pr foraging.

Here's a link to an article on Histoplasmosis.