Chart: What is blastomycosis?

It's an infection from a fungus that grows naturally in moist soil and is transmitted by inhaling spore-laden dust. It is not spread from person to person or from animal to person.

It most commonly infects people and dogs, but cats, horses and other animals can contract it. Dogs exposed to the spores might not show symptoms for two to three weeks.

Symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, cough, difficulty breathing, lameness, eye disease and skin lesions. Untreated, the infection can spread to other organs. Severe eye infections can lead to blindness, and infections in the lungs or nervous system can kill.