|
Coccidioidomycosis
in humans |
As with dogs and cats, ~60% of Coccidioides immitis
infections in humans are asymptomatic.
- These people are known to have been infected only by coccidioidin
skin testing or serology.
However, chronic pulmonary disease (with thin-walled cavitation
lesions in the lungs) and disseminated systemic disease (with
bone involvement, meningitis, skin lesions and reproductive tract
disease) can occur.
- Mortality from coccidioidomycosis is substantially increased
during pregnancy.
- In addition, infections are more severe in individuals of
certain blood types and HLA genotypes, reflecting the influence
of host genetics on infectious disease outcomes.