1/5. coccidioides immitis presenting as a mycelial pathogen with empyema and hydropneumothorax.A previously healthy Caucasian male developed hydropneumothorax and a pleural peel filled with pleomorphic, septate hyphae. The only organism grown from cultures of the lung and pleural fluid was coccidioides immitis, confirmed by exoantigen testing. Spherule-endospore forms were produced, however, following injection of the arthroconidial tissue isolate into BALB/c mice. The patient had a positive immunodiffusion complement-fixation test and developed a positive coccidioidin skin test during therapy. He recovered following thoracotomy and wedge resection of the ruptured coccidioidal cavity, and therapy with amphotericin b followed by fluconazole. The sole presence of the mycelial form of the dimorphic fungus C. immitis in the pleural space may have been due to a low CO2 partial pressure at that site secondary to a bronchopleural fistula. The case shows a distinctive and uncommon presentation of coccidioidomycosis which demonstrates the specificity of both the immunodiffusion complement-fixation assay in diagnosing this disease and the exoantigen test in confirming culture results.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. review of human and animal cases of coccidioidomycosis diagnosed in canada.The first Canadian case of coccidioidomycosis in a human was reported in 1952 and 11 more cases since then. This study provides details of other cases of coccidioidomycosis that have been diagnosed in canada. Based on clinical details, isolation of coccidioides immitis, detection of a specific antibody (F band) for coccidioidomycosis by macro- or microimmunodiffusion tests, concurrently used with the complement fixation procedure, and histopathological findings, 116 more cases of this disease were verified. The great majority (94%) of these cases were diagnosed in the western Canadian provinces of british columbia, alberta, saskatchewan and manitoba, and the others in quebec, ontario and nova scotia (5, 1, and 1 cases, respectively). Available information indicates that the C. immitis infections were contracted during visits to endemic areas in the united states (arizona, california and new mexico), Mexico, and bolivia. Pulmonary infections were the most common type of coccidioidomycosis (93%) followed by the disseminated or meningeal types C. immitis infections occurred in individuals with or without predisposing factor(s) and were more common in males than in females. The exoantigen procedure was very useful and reliable in the accurate and rapid identification of suspected C. immitis isolates. Two cases of coccidioidomycosis were reported in animals in ontario, canada.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis with peritonitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Prolonged survival associated with positive skin test reactivity to coccidioidin.coccidioidomycosis involving the lungs and the meninges occurred as the sole opportunistic infection in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). skin test reactivity to coccidioidin was present, but antibody response to coccidioidal antigens was markedly distinguished. Treatment with amphotericin B, administered intravenously for 3 1/2 months and intrathecally for 13 months, resulted in a disease-free interval of one year. Subsequently, coccidioidal peritonitis developed, which responded to treatment with amphotericin b. However, 29 months after the initial diagnosis, the patient died of complications of hepatic encephalopathy resulting from alcoholic cirrhosis. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first reported case of coccidioidal peritonitis in AIDS and involves the most prolonged survival of a patient with coccidioidomycosis and AIDS. The presence of positive skin test reactivity to coccidioidin may have been a predictor of prolonged survival in this patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. A case of coccidioidomycosis diagnosed by exoantigen testing.A case of coccidioidomycosis is described which was caused by a pigmented fungus that failed to produce arthroconidia. Exoantigen testing showed that the isolate produced an antigen that gave a line of identity with coccidioides (C.) immitis. The formation of spherules in a guinea pig testis confirmed the identity of the isolate as C. immitis. The patient's serum was found to have antibodies that reacted in complement fixation and immunodiffusion tests to C. immitis antigens. The exoantigen test results were responsible for the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis in this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. coccidioidomycosis of the knee diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration: a case report.A case of septic arthritis from coccidioidomycosis in a 62-year-old man is described. The diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration and supported by positive cultures and exoantigen testing. coccidioidomycosis can infect bones and joints, especially the knee. This case is presented to increase awareness of involvement of the knee by this organism, and to demonstrate the feasibility of diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration. The cytologic findings of coccidioidomycosis of the knee are described and discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |