Dataset Information

Valley fever: finding new places for an old disease: Coccidioides immitis found in Washington State soil associated with recent human infection.

ABSTRACT: We used real-time polymerase chain reaction and culture to demonstrate persistent colonization of soils by Coccidioides immitis, an agent of valley fever, in Washington State linked to recent human infections and located outside the endemic range. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed genetic identity between isolates from soil and one of the case-patients.

SUBMITTER: Litvintseva AP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4296125 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Valley fever: finding new places for an old disease: Coccidioides immitis found in Washington State soil associated with recent human infection.

Litvintseva Anastasia P AP Marsden-Haug Nicola N Hurst Steven S Hill Heather H Gade Lalitha L Driebe Elizabeth M EM Ralston Cindy C Roe Chandler C Barker Bridget M BM Goldoft Marcia M Keim Paul P Wohrle Ron R Thompson George R GR Engelthaler David M DM Brandt Mary E ME Chiller Tom T

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 20140827 1

We used real-time polymerase chain reaction and culture to demonstrate persistent colonization of soils by Coccidioides immitis, an agent of valley fever, in Washington State linked to recent human infections and located outside the endemic range. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed genetic identity between isolates from soil and one of the case-patients. ...[more]

PMID: 25165087

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Project description:Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii are causative agents of Valley fever, a serious fungal disease endemic to regions with hot, arid climate in the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. The environmental niche of Coccidioides spp. is not well defined, and it remains unknown whether these fungi are primarily associated with rodents or grow as saprotrophs in soil. To better understand the environmental reservoir of these pathogens, we used a systematic soil sampling approach, quantitative PCR (qPCR), culture, whole-genome sequencing, and soil chemical analysis to identify factors associated with the presence of C. immitis at a known colonization site in Washington State linked to a human case in 2010. We found that the same strain colonized an area of over 46,000 m2 and persisted in soil for over 6 years. No association with rodent burrows was observed, as C. immitis DNA was as likely to be detected inside rodent holes as it was in the surrounding soil. In addition, the presence of C. immitis DNA in soil was correlated with elevated levels of boron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and silicon in soil leachates. We also observed differences in the microbial communities between C. immitis-positive and -negative soils. Our artificial soil inoculation experiments demonstrated that C. immitis can use soil as a sole source of nutrients. Taken together, these results suggest that soil parameters need to be considered when modeling the distribution of this fungus in the environment. IMPORTANCE Coccidioidomycosis is considered a highly endemic disease for which geographic range is likely to expand from climate change. A better understanding of the ecological niche of Coccidioides spp. is essential for generating accurate distribution maps and predicting future changes in response to the changing environment. Our study used a systematic sampling strategy, advanced molecular detection methods, and soil chemical analysis to identify environmental factors associated with the presence of C. immitis in soil. Our results demonstrate the fungus can colonize the same areas for years and is associated with chemical and microbiological soil characteristics. Our results suggest that in addition to climate parameters, soil characteristics need to be considered when building habitat distribution models for this pathogen.

Dataset Information

Valley fever: finding new places for an old disease: Coccidioides immitis found in Washington State soil associated with recent human infection.

Publications

Valley fever: finding new places for an old disease: Coccidioides immitis found in Washington State soil associated with recent human infection.

Similar Datasets

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