Coccidioides immitis

Question 1

What type of pathogen is Coccidioides immitis?

Answer 1

Fungus

Question 2

Where does Coccidioides immitis reside?

Answer 2

Arid or semi arid soil

Question 3

What is the most common disease/infection of Coccidioides immitis?

Answer 3

Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever): disease of the lungs
Either no symptoms or experience flu like symptoms
Resolve from a few week to a few months

Question 4

What is the portal of entry of Coccidioides immitis?

Answer 4

Enters mouth/nose and transmitted through inhalation of soil
Inhale dust with spores
Endemic: southwest of US (cali, az, mx, tx)

Question 5

What is the pathogenesis of Coccidioides immitis?

Answer 5

Spherule- a structure in lungs that fills with endospores, and when it grows crushes tissue

Question 6

Can Coccidioides immitis be treated with antibiotics?

Answer 6

Yes, antifungal agents

Question 7

Is Coccidioides immitis a bad pathogen?

Answer 7

It is not contagious between animals and humans
Dogs can get valley fever similar to valley fever is humans