In New York, two men developed a serious fungal infection after trying to cultivate their own cannabis using bat poop as fertilizer.
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Patients: Two men, one 59 years old (patient number 1) and the other 64 (patient number 2) in Rochester New York
The following symptoms are common: The patient was admitted for respiratory failure, after he had been experiencing various symptoms for six weeks, such as a sore neck, swallowing difficulties, and a significant weight loss. The doctors at the hospital ordered a computed-tomography scan (CT) of the neck. This revealed mucus in the upper voice box, right side vocal cord, and the left.
The second patient was hospitalized initially because of low levels of salt in his blood. This caused swelling tissue. He also had poor teeth, making it difficult for him to drink or eat, resulting in weight loss.
Next: Patient one was admitted into hospital with signs of blood poisoning and a wasting appearance. A chest CT scan revealed that fluid had built up in the lungs. He was treated with antibiotics, and doctors briefly ventilated him to help him breathe. Later, the medical team found traces of mold in his urine and mucus that he coughed up from his respiratory system.
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Patient two was admitted to the hospital with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). The CT scan showed multiple lesions on his chest and abdominal area. A urine test revealed traces of fungi.
Diagnosis: The two patients, who had no affiliation but came from the same region, were both diagnosed with histoplasmosis. This is a rare fungus lung infection.
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Inhaling spores from a harmful mold named Histoplasma capsulatumIt is usually found in the soil, bat poop and bird poo. Histoplasmosis affects approximately 1 to 2 Americans per 100,000 people each year. Most people who are exposed to this fungus do not develop symptoms. People with lung diseases or weak immune systems are more susceptible to developing symptoms than the rest of us.
These two patients may have had other illnesses that aggravated their symptoms before developing histoplasmosis. Patient one, for example, had emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), in which the air sacs within the lungs were damaged. This caused breathing to be restricted.
Image of the histoplasmosis-causing fungus. (Image credit: CDC/Dr. Lucille K. Georg via CDC PHIL)
Both smoked cannabis and tobacco.
Treatment: Antifungal medications were prescribed to the patients after their diagnosis. Both patients died despite the treatment. Hospitalized patients with histoplasmosis are between 5%-7% more likely to die from their illness.
Why is the case so unique? In both cases, the patients were using bat poop or planned to use it as fertilizer for their personal cannabis plants. The first patient had purchased bat poop, or guano, online. Patient two was planning to use the guano that he found after a bat invasion in his attic.
Doctors noted in a report that online sources claimed that bat guano was a cause of the disease. “natural superfood” Cannabis plants benefit from the nutrients in it, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The report’s authors note that many U.S. States have legalized cannabis for recreational purposes, including Arizona, New York, and Ohio, in the near future. This may encourage more people to cultivate their own cannabis.
Authors emphasize that the dangers associated with using bat guano for fertilizer is not limited to marijuana. The product could be hazardous in any garden, they said. They warned that because guano was being sold for the cannabis industry, it is important to educate the public about the risks of using this poop.
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The information contained in this article is intended solely for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Emily writes health-related news in London, United Kingdom. Emily holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Durham University, and a Master’s in Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience from Oxford University. While undergoing NCTJ Journalism training at News Associates, she has experience in medical writing, science communication and local reporting. She was selected as one of MHP Communications 30 journalists under 30 to watch in 2018. (emily.cooke@futurenet.com)
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