EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND PATHOGEN OCCURRENCE OF HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM IN "LAS CABACHUELAS" NATURAL RESERVE, MOROVIS, PUERTO RICO

This study aims to provide the frst Quantitative and qualitative assessment of airborne fungal spores at Las Cabachuelas Natural Reserve in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Also, a cross-sectional study for targeted detection of Histoplasma capsulatum will be done. The reserve is a distinctive karst region comprising at least 60 cave ecosystems. It has gained prominence as a destination for ecotourism, offering guided tours, insights into cave art, and opportunities for observation of diverse fora and fauna. This project will be conducted through the LIT-GEO program, which aims to promote inclusivity and facilitate collaboration between scientists and local communities through the lens of geosciences.

In this study, we will examine these caves for the presence of Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that causes pneumonia-like symptoms and is especially deadly in immunocompromised patients. We will obtain air and soil samples in each of the caves visited. Air samples will be obtained using the Environmental Express IAQ 15 air pump with Air-O-Cell®️ cartridges for microscopic analysis and Via-Cell®️ for DNA analysis. In addition, soil samples from inside the caves will be analyzed using Qiagen's PowerSoil®️ Pro kit and specifc qPCR assays for H. capsulatum. We expect if that this fungi is present, it would be in a cave with a high density of organic material and guano. The data collected will be used by the community to create biosafety protocols to safeguard public health while inside these caves.