Molecular identification of Coccidioides spp. in soil samples from Brazil

Since 1991 several outbreaks of acute coccidioidomycosis (CM) were diagnosed in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil, mainly related to disturbance of armadillo burrows caused by hunters while digging them for the capture of these animals. This activity causes dust contaminated with arthroconidia of Co...

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Published in:BMC microbiology 2011-05, Vol.11 (1), p.108-108
Main Authors: de Macêdo, Regina C L, Rosado, Alexandre S, da Mota, Fabio F, Cavalcante, Maria A S, Eulálio, Kelsen D, Filho, Antônio D, Martins, Liline M S, Lazéra, Márcia S, Wanke, Bodo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Experimentation
Animals
Brazil
Coccidia
Coccidioides - classification
Coccidioides - genetics
Coccidioides - isolation & purification
Coccidioides - pathogenicity
Genetic aspects
Mice
Molecular biology
Mycology - methods
Mycoses - microbiology
Mycoses - pathology
Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
Soil Microbiology
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Summary:Since 1991 several outbreaks of acute coccidioidomycosis (CM) were diagnosed in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil, mainly related to disturbance of armadillo burrows caused by hunters while digging them for the capture of these animals. This activity causes dust contaminated with arthroconidia of Coccidioides posadasii, which, once inhaled, cause the mycosis. We report on the identification of C. posadasii in soil samples related to outbreaks of CM. Twenty four soil samples had their DNA extracted and subsequently submitted to a semi-nested PCR technique using specific primers. While only 6 (25%) soil samples were positive for C. posadasii by mice inoculation, all (100%) were positive by the molecular tool. This methodology represents a simple, sensitive and specific molecular technique to determine the environmental distribution of Coccidioides spp. in endemic areas, but cannot distinguish the species. Moreover, it may be useful to identify culture isolates. Key-words: 1. Coccidioidomycosis. 2. Coccidioides spp. 3. C. posadasii. 4. Semi-arid. 5. Semi-nested PCR.
ISSN:1471-2180
1471-2180
DOI:10.1186/1471-2180-11-108