Coccidioides — Culture and Identification

This page provides testing information for Coccidiomycosis at Public Health Ontario (PHO). The causative agent(s) of Coccidiomycosis in North America is Coccidioides immitis/posadasii.  Coccidioides immitis/posadasii is endemic to arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

The following testing options are available for Coccidiomycosis:

1. Fungal culture
   If sending a specimen to PHO requesting for isolation, culture and identification of Coccidioides, please refer to testing information: Mycology — Fungal Culture – Systemic.
   
   
2. Culture confirmation
   If sending a cultured isolated, suspected as Coccidioides to PHO to confirm identification, please refer to testing information: Mycology — Reference Identification of Yeast, Filamentous Fungi and Nocardia/Aerobic Actinomycetes.
   
   
3. Serology
   If sending blood sample (serum) to PHO for investigation of serologic evidence of Coccidioides infection, please refer to testing information: Coccidioides — Serology.

About Coccidiomycosis

• Transmission: Infection is acquired through inhalation of airborne arthroconidia from disturbed soil.
  
  
• Symptoms: Clinical presentation can range from asymptomatic infection to severe pulmonary or disseminated disease.
  
  
• Risk factors: Risk factors include travel to endemic areas such as Arizona and California involving occupational or recreational exposure to dust, such as construction, farming, military activities, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, and rock climbing.