title: Molecular identification of Coccidioides spp. in soil samples from Brazil.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia do Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. regina.macedo@ipec.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Regina C L
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Macêdo
authors.forename: Alexandre S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.forename: Fabio F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: da Mota
authors.forename: Maria A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Kelsen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Eulálio
authors.forename: Antônio D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Liline M S
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Márcia S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lazéra
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wanke
mesh_terms: D032761:Animal Experimentation; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051379:Mice; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012988:Soil Microbiology