Which two pathogenic fungi are commonly associated with bird, pigeon, or bat droppings?

The correct choice highlights two pathogenic fungi that are notably linked to bird, pigeon, or bat droppings: Histoplasma capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans. Histoplasma capsulatum is well-known for causing histoplasmosis, a disease that can develop when spores from this fungus are inhaled, especially in environments contaminated with bird or bat feces. The presence of these droppings creates favorable conditions for the growth of Histoplasma, particularly in rural or urban settings where these animals roost.

Cryptococcus neoformans is another important fungal pathogen typically associated with bird droppings, particularly those of pigeons. This fungus can lead to cryptococcosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The organism is found in the soil and pigeon droppings, and similar to Histoplasma, it can become airborne.

While the other choices included fungi that can be found in various environments, they don't have a significant association with bird or bat droppings. For example, Candida albicans is more often linked to opportunistic infections rather than environmental exposure from droppings, and Aspergillus species like Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger are primarily associated with spoilage and allergies rather than