Update on the Identification of Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii

August 2012

Coccidioides species are dimorphic fungal pathogens. Coccidioides immitis is endemic to the San Joaquin valley region of California and coccidioidomycosis is sometimes referred to as Valley Fever. Coccidioides posadasii is found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States including Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and West Texas and also in parts of Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay and Central America. Dr. Wengenack provides an overview of Coccidioides infection and describes transmission, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. She also discusses the laboratory methods that are useful for the detection and identification of Coccidioides species with a particular emphasis on rapid detection using PCR

Presenter:

• Nancy L Wengenack, PhD, Director of the Mycology and Mycobacteriology Laboratories and Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic

Related Tests

• FS/84390 Fungal Smear
• FGEN/84389 Fungal Culture, Routine
• SCOC/8295 Coccidioides Antibody, Serum
• CCOC/81542 Coccidioides Antibody, Spinal Fluid
• CIMRP/88804 Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, Molecular Detection, PCR

Print Options

• Before viewing, print the Notes Pages.
• After viewing, obtain a Record of Viewing.

Forward to a Colleague

Share this presentation with:

• General Practitioners
• Infectious Disease Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Laboratorians

If you have questions, e-mail .