Molecular Characterization of Coccidioides spp. Strains Isolated from Patients in the Argentine Republic

Abstract

This review summarizes the analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) sequencing of Coccidioides spp. strains isolated in the endemic region of coccidioidomycosis in Argentina, to be able to associate the presence of a specific fungal genotype with a specific geographical region. Recent studies have focused on the identification and genetic variability between and intraspecies as a tool to contribute to the coccidioidomycosis epidemiology; these findings may contribute to the specific identification of circulating strains of Coccidioides spp. in Argentina. Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii are causative agents of coccidioidomycosis, an endemic mycosis of arid and semiarid regions of America. The classic diagnosis based on microbiological methods only identifies up to the level of gender, being sufficient to initiate a treatment, since until now no specific clinical differences associated with one or another species have been described. It is likely that the number of strains analyzed here only represents a small portion of the circulating strains in our region; however, the ITSs sequencing from strains isolated in the Argentine territory has allowed us to conclude that the strains circulating in our country to date are C. posadasii.