Detection of Coccidioides posadasii from xerophytic environments in Venezuela reveals risk of naturally acquired coccidioidomycosis infections.

ABSTRACT: A wide range of mammals are susceptible to infection by the fungal species Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii. In humans, 60% of infections are asymptomatic; however, certain patients may develop a severe and deep systemic mycosis called coccidioidomycosis. Genetic analysis suggests that the majority of clinical isolates recovered from South America are C. posadasii; however, little is known about the prevalence, species distribution, and ecological factors that favor the occurrence of this pathogen in those areas. By using a combined quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based approach and mycobiome amplicon sequencing, we provide evidence that at least two genotypes of C. posadasii are found in the xerophytic environment in Venezuela. We detected a 3806-fold range in the amoun

SUBMITTER: Alvarado P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5874253 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature