Coccidioidomycosis

This chapter talks about coccidioidomycosis (CM), which is caused by dimorphic fungi of the genus Coccidioides and is presented as an acute and chronic pulmonary disease. It reviews how infection from CM may disseminate to cutaneous, osseous, and central nervous system sites and how it causes a significant health problem in the southwestern USA and Latin America. It also mentions Coccidioides, which grows as a mold with colonies that are usually colored white and has hyphae that are thin, septate, and hyaline. The chapter discusses C. immitis that are mostly California isolates and C. posadasii that are isolates for other areas. It describes the mycelial form of Coccidioides that grows just beneath the soil surface and is composed of arthroconidia intercalated with nonviable segments.