Coccidioides immitis Flashcards
What type of pathogen is Coccidioides immitis?
Fungus
Where does Coccidioides immitis reside?
Arid or semi arid soil
What is the most common disease/infection of Coccidioides immitis?
Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever): disease of the lungs
Either no symptoms or experience flu like symptoms
Resolve from a few week to a few months
What is the portal of entry of Coccidioides immitis?
Enters mouth/nose and transmitted through inhalation of soil
Inhale dust with spores
Endemic: southwest of US (cali, az, mx, tx)
What is the pathogenesis of Coccidioides immitis?
Spherule- a structure in lungs that fills with endospores, and when it grows crushes tissue
Can Coccidioides immitis be treated with antibiotics?
Yes, antifungal agents
Is Coccidioides immitis a bad pathogen?
It is not contagious between animals and humans
Dogs can get valley fever similar to valley fever is humans