Article
Molecular identification of Coccidioides spp. in soil samples from Brazil
Registro en:
MACÊDO, Regina C. L. de; et al. Molecular identification of Coccidioides spp. in soil samples from Brazil. BMC Microbiology, v.11, n.108, 9p, 2011.
1471-2180
10.1186/1471-2180-11-108
Autor
Macêdo, Regina C. L. de
Rosado, Alexandre S.
Mota, Fabio F. da
Cavalcante, Maria A. S.
Eulálio, Kelsen D.
D. Filho, Antônio
Martins, Liline M. S.
Lazéra, Márcia S.
Wanke, Bodo
Resumen
Background: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.