Which infectious disease is associated with exposure to bat caves?

Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which is commonly found in environments enriched with bird and bat droppings. Exposure to bat caves significantly raises the risk of developing histoplasmosis because the spores of the fungus are often present in the dust that becomes airborne when disturbed.

Individuals who enter bat caves or are in close proximity to infected bat droppings can inhale the spores, leading to respiratory infections. The symptoms can vary from mild flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory distress, particularly in individuals who are immunocompromised or have underlying lung disease.

In contrast, amebiasis is caused by a parasite often associated with contaminated food and water, and salmonella is primarily linked to foodborne transmission. Tertiary syphilis is a chronic stage of the sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and is not associated with environmental exposure like bat caves. Thus, histoplasmosis is the most relevant infectious disease connected to this specific exposure.