Cause
The causative agent of the disease is Blastomyces dermatidis, a fungus. Most cases of infection occur by inhalation of the infective spores present in the environment. The organism can then disseminate or spread to other tissues such as eyes, skin, bone, lymph nodes and other tissues. At body temperature, the fungus exists as a single-celled yeast, while at environmental temperature it exists as the infectious mycelial form. Animals infected with the disease can not pass it on to others, unless there is drainage from skin lesions.