People And Chicken Diseases

[Duppydo]

Not sure if i'm posting this in the right place...At Easter dinner this evening my brother was telling me about an eye disease humans can get from parasites, from chickens...
Does anyone know anything about this...? I work at a chicke farm part time with a few thousand laying hens and meat birds. I wear a respirator
which really helps alot, because it can get kind funky in the winter with the coops closed up..
Do i need to be concerned about my eyes...? thanks....

 

[Appaloosa Hill Farm]

I believe he's referring to hystoplasmosis. I don't know a lot about it. I do know that it can cause blindness--a dear friend's husband lost sight in one eye due to the illness. If you're taking preventative measures such as the respirator and are practicing good hygiene (hand washing and such) you're probably going to be safe.

 

[dacjohns]

Check this out:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS019

I didn't see anything about the eyes when doing a quick read.

 

[dacjohns]

Here is a link to histoplasmosis and eye problems.

http://www.nei.nih.gov/Health/histoplasmosis/index.asp