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Blastomycosis is a fungal infection of Blastomyces dermatitidis. This mold is found in soil and is endemic in North America. It is also common in dogs and is therefore a veterinary problem. It is primarily inhaled, from where it can invade deeper tissues and cause skin and bone lesions. Blastomyces spread when they are phagocytosed by macrophages but survive (intracellular pathogen) and replicate in the macrophage.