Coccidioidomycosis
This is infection with the endemic fungus Coccidioides species which is typically found in soil. It is endemic in South Western United States.
The infective agent is the arthrospore which can undergo two life cycles:
- primarily in the soil
- secondarily in a potential host
There are about 100,000 infections with Coccidioides in the USA each year. Humans and animals are at risk.
The disease is usually a subclinical respiratory tract infection however severe systemic forms of the disease exist.
Coccidioidomycosis may be asymptomatic or can cause acute and chronic pulmonary syndromes and, rarely, extrapulmonary infection. No human-to-human transmission of infection occurs.
Reference
- Galgiani JN, Ampel NM, Blair JE, et al. 2016 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guideline for the treatment of coccidioidomycosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Sep 15;63(6)
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