Clinical Information

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the dimorphic fungi, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. These organisms are endemic to the southwestern regions of the United States, northern Mexico, and areas of Central and South America. The illness commonly manifests as a self-limited upper respiratory tract infection, but can also result in disseminated disease that may be refractory to treatment.(1) Clinical onset generally occurs 10 to 16 days following inhalation of coccidioidal spores (arthroconidia).(2) Disease progression may be rapid in previously healthy or immunosuppressed individuals.

At present, the gold standard for the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis is culture of the organism from clinical specimens. Culture is highly sensitive and, with the implementation of DNA probe assays for confirmatory testing of culture isolates, yields excellent specificity.(3) However, growth in culture may take up to several weeks. This often delays the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals. In addition, the propagation of Coccidioides species in the clinical laboratory is a significant safety hazard to laboratory personnel, serving as an important cause of laboratory-acquired infections if the organism is not quickly identified and handled appropriately (ie, in a Biosafety Level 3 facility). Serological tests including immunodiffusion and complement fixation are widely used for the detection of antibody against Coccidioides. Serology for Coccidioides can be limited by delays in antibody development or nonspecificity due to cross-reactions with other fungi. In addition, immunodiffusion and complement fixation tests are highly labor intensive and are generally limited to reference laboratories.

Molecular methods can identify Coccidioides species directly from clinical specimens, allowing for a more rapid diagnosis. Fungal culture should also be performed since the isolate may be needed for antifungal susceptibility testing.