Miami Pigeon Problem - bird trapping & removal in FL

Diseases Linked to Bird Droppings

Health hazards from birds and bats need to be prepared for when dealing with large colonies of animals living in a confined attic. Large populations of roosting birds may present the risk of disease to people who attempt to remove the critters or cleanup their droppings. The most serious health risks comes from organisms that can grow in the nutrient-rich accumulations of bird droppings, feathers and debris under a roost. External parasites, such as mites, fleas, and ticks, also may become a problem when infested birds or bats leave roosts or nests. The parasites then can invade buildings and bite or irritate people. 

Histoplasmosis

• Histoplasmosis [his-toh-plaz-MOH-sis] is a fungal infection that varies in symptoms and seriousness.
• Histoplasmosis usually affects the lungs and causes a short-term, treatable lung infection. When it affects other parts of the body, it is called disseminated histoplasmosis. Disseminated histoplasmosis can be fatal.
• The histoplasmosis fungus lives in soil, especially soil that is enriched with bat or bird droppings.
• People get histoplasmosis when they breathe in dust that contains the fungus.
• Histoplasmosis is treatable with fungus-killing medicines.
• To prevent histoplasmosis, avoid exposure to dust from soil that might be contaminated with bat or bird droppings.

What is the infectious agent that causes histoplasmosis?

Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus. The fungus produces spores that can be inhaled when they get into the air. Spores are hardy forms of the fungus that can live in the environment for a long time.   They are frequently found in bat or bird droppings

How do people get histoplasmosis?

Histoplasmosis is spread through the air. If soil containing the histoplasmosis fungus is disturbed, the fungus spores get into the air. People can breathe in the spores and get histoplasmosis. The disease is not spread from person to person.

What complications can result from histoplasmosis?

Acute histoplasmosis can keep getting worse or can become chronic. Acute histoplasmosis can also spread from the lungs to other organs and lead to the disseminated form of the disease, especially in persons with weakened immune systems.

How can histoplasmosis be prevented?

• Avoid areas where the fungus might be growing, especially areas with accumulations of bird or bat droppings. The fungus often grows around old chicken houses, in caves and other areas where bats live, and around starling and blackbird roosts.
• Eliminate accumulations of bat or bird droppings, and minimize exposure to dust in potentially contaminated sites.

When working in high-risk areas, wear disposable clothing and a dust mask that covers the nose and mouth

Cryptococcosis

Pigeon droppings appear to be the most important source of the disease fungus Cryptococcus neoformans in the environment. The fungus is typically found in accumulations of droppings around roosting and nesting sites, for example, attics, cupolas, ledges and water towers. It has been found in as many as 84 percent of samples taken from old roosts. Even when old and dry, bird droppings can be a significant source of infection.

The disease is acquired by inhaling the yeast-like cells of the organism. Two forms of cryptococcosis occur in humans. The generalized form begins with a lung infection and spreads to other areas of the body, particularly the central nervous system, and is usually fatal unless treated. The cutaneous (skin) form is characterized by acne-like skin eruptions or ulcers with nodules just under the skin. The cutaneous form is very rare, however, without generalized (systemic) disease. Outbreaks (multiple cases at a location) of cryptococcosis have not been documented.

Other diseases

Other diseases carried or transmitted by birds affect man to a lesser degree. Psittacosis and toxoplasmosis are normally mild in man; however, serious illness or death does occur rarely. Pigeons and sparrows also have been implicated (along with many other species of birds) as sources of encephalitis viruses carried by mosquitoes.