FLOODWATERS AS VECTORS OF INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY AGENTS

By Dr. Ethan Levy

Fungal respiratory infections due to harmful geophilic microorganisms are on the rise throughout the United States. Species of ASPERGILLUS, CRYPTOCOCCUS, HISTOPLASMA, BLASTOMYCOSIS, COCCIDIOIDES, recently added, CANDIDA AURIS, have all become recognized human pathogens at certain locations across the country.Areas with no past history have become increasingly affected by these disease causing agents. In each case, the microbial invaders are dimorphic fungi (DM) which are capable of forming spores. Certain spore forming soil bacteria, have also been encountered as infectious respiratory agents at confined locations e.g., ANTHRAX. In previous years, the above DM fungal species were regarded, at most, as opportunistic pathogens. Climate changes have been, in part, attributed to the rise in prevalence of certain bacterial and fungal respiratory complications, but the actual mechanism of spread remains a mystery. A close look shows that the prevalence and magnitude of organism specific respiratory complications to be directly correlated with the respective soil and estuary habitat of each invader and in turn, the corresponding regional levels of floodwaters. By way of example, is the southwestern region of the United States where COCCIDIOIDES infections (Valley Fever) are most prevalent in areas prone to high levels of flood waters. Lets close in: Flood waters move soil containing DM fungal strains into population areas i.e., inhabited residential areas including homes, parks and roadways. Once the floodwaters recede and the affected areas begin to dry, desiccation sets in, causing the displaced microbes to sporulate (sporulation being a mechanism of survival). Billions of viable spores subsequently become aerosolized especially during cleanup operations and concomitant human traffic. The viable biological material (spores) are now infectious respiratory agents. The above is the exact scenario we (MICRA BIOTECH) encountered during remediation work in the summer of 1997, in a Brooklyn, NY paper recycling plant. At this facility flood waters containing bird/mouse fecal microorganisms infiltrated the plant and were imbibed by the, to be, recycled paper. During the pulverization process microorganisms together with spore material were spread into the lungs and eyes of the majority of factory personnel. The nearby public sector was also affected.

Reference(s)

Mazi PB, Rauseo AM, Spec A. Blastomycosis. Infect Dis Clin North AM 2021

Jun; 35(2):515-530