Coccidioides immitis is a fungal disease that causes the fungal infection known as Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis). This fungus lives in soil, dry and low rainfall areas and replicates in increased soil moisture. Valley fever incidence is linked to climate changes due to the fungus lifecycle and is a dimorphic fungus. The fungus remains dormant in the soil and lives off of dead organic matter until the soil dries. When the soil dries it becomes a fungal spore (arthroconidia) with slender filaments that then break off and become airborne when the soil in which they are in is disturbed. The spores can also become airborne with high winds and soil movement due to digging, construction and farming (CDC, 2014). People indirectly come into contact with the spore through inhalation. The spore reproduces in the lungs after the host becomes infected with it. This fungus infection is not a communicable disease (contagious) because it can’t be spread from person to person (Bazzo, 2013).
Twenty five percent of valley fever’s primary infections manifest as a community acquired pneumonia usually within 1 to 3 weeks after becoming infected. About 60% of individuals that become infected don’t show any symptoms of being infected, 10% of them experience flu like symptoms, 5% grow a skin lesion, meningitis, osteomyelitis, and 15% develop pneumonia like symptoms and. There are a small percentage of cases of disseminated coccidioidomycosis development in the body. Some common symptoms for valley fever are fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, chest discomfort, malaise, and tiredness. The signs and symptoms associated with valley fever may last six months or longer in those that weren’t diagnosed early (CDC, 2009).
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...dioidomycosis http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/.
CDC (2013). Increase in Reported Coccidioidomycosis -United States, 1998–2011. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6212a1.htm.
CDC. (2009). Increase in Coccidioidomycosis -California, 2000-2007.
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Kolivras, K., & Comrie, A. (2003). Modeling valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) Incidence on the Basis of Climate Conditions. International Journal of Biometeorology, 47(2), 87-101.
Talamantes, J., Behseta, S., & Zender, C. (2007). Statistical Modeling of Valley Fever Data in Kern County, California. International Journal of Biometeorology, 51(4), 307-313.
Brown, Jennifer Brown, Benedict, Kaitlin. (2013). Coccidioidomycosis: epidemiology. 5: 185–197.
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Dickerson, James L. Yellow Fever: A Deadly Disease Poised to Kill Again. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2006. Print.
L. pneumophila has a very wide range of effects. Healthy individuals usually go through an asymptomatic seroconversion, while less healthy people may undergo Pontiac Fever or Legionnaires’ Disease (LD). In 1968, employees at the county health department in Pontiac, Michigan came down with a fever, but the responsible pathogen was not identified at the time. It was frozen and later diagnosed as L. pneumophila. Pontiac Fever, being milder than LD, generally does not need treatment. Infected individuals will show fever, muscle aches, and headaches, and usually recover between 2-5 days. Pontiac Fever will present symptoms anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days after exposure, while LD takes 2-10 days to incubate. LD patients have fever, chills and a cough, with x-rays showing pneumonia. This more severe form usually prevails in elderly, cigarette smokers, people with chronic lung disease, or those who are immunocompromised, such as cancer or AIDS patients.
About half the population is not exposed to this virus until late adolescence. The peak incidence for girls is 14-16 and boys 16-18. After initial contact with the virus, there is an incubation period of 4-6 weeks and then the symptoms start appearing. Symptoms include fever, sore throat and lymph adenopathy (swollen and tender lymph nodes). Mono may be called glandular fever as well because of the swelling in the lymph nodes. Fevers can get as high as 102 degrees Fahrenheit and may remain high for 3-4 weeks. Other symptoms include enlargement of the spleen and liver, fatigue, loss of appetite, periorbital edema (swelling of the tissue around the eyes), petechiae (tiny bruising like spots on the roof of mouth), and a fine rash. The white blood cell and liver enzyme counts are elevated, and anemia can occur with low platelet counts.
Glasner, Joyce. “Yellow Fever.” Canada’s History 91.3 (2011): 46-47. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
Also known as Coccidioidomycosis, Valley fever infections have been on the rise in recent years. Endemic to the desert Southwest, valley fever is caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides. The cocci get stirred up by building, drilling, tilling, and clearing land, and disperse due to dry, hot, windy conditions. The spores may be inhaled and are capable of embedding deep into the lungs. Valley fever cannot spread from person to person.
Valley fever is a fungal pathogen. Coccidioidomycosis is valley fever’s scientific name. The pathogen’s structure is a spore. Valley fever is caused by Coccidioides immitis. Coccidioides immitis is a fungus that grows in soil. Valley fever is most commonly found in areas with little precipitation. This pathogen is most commonly found in the southern United States, Central America, and South America. However, scientists are worried that increased temperatures may cause valley fever to spread and affect new areas.
It was spread very slowly and less broadly than other viral illnesses which took a long time to identify the infection in the first two weeks. Infection of smallpox started to grow between 7 to 10 days when the scabs formed into bruises. The signs and symptoms of this disease include high fever, widespread rashes, redness, muscle pain, headache, common cold, vomiting, nausea and many more. Consequently, the virus was found in the bone marrow along with bloodstream in huge numbers. There are different types of the smallpox disease with other classifications.
This parasite is spread through the bite of sandflies. There are three different types of infections and they each show varying degrees of severity. The cutaneous form produces mild skin ulcers, mucocutaneous produces ulcers in the mouth and nose, and the visceral form of the disease starts with skin ulcers and then fever, low red blood cell count, and an enlarged spleen and liver. The parasite is detected by a microscope and visceral can also be found by doing blood tests. 12 million people are in infected in 98 different countries and 2 million new cases are found every year. The disease also kills around 20 to 50 thousand people a year.
People affected with Legionnaires disease often have signs and symptoms extremely similar to signs associated with the flu, such as muscle aches, headaches, loss of appetite, and cough. Fevers tend to get high, ranging from temperatures of 102-105 degrees. Symptoms of Legionnaires disease usually do not show up until 2-10 days after a person is infected with the bacteria, and people normally experience other symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramps. Pontiac Fever, also known to be associate...
Valley fever is transmitted when bacteria in the soil become airborne and are inhaled. California residents must understand the harmful effects of air pollution and make better choices when using energy or transportation. The drought conditions are worsening, but communities and individuals can work together to help improve the air quality. References California drought and air quality Santa Barbara County air pollution control district. (2015).
Results obtained in lab as well as scientific research prove that as temperatures increase the percent of crossing over increases as well. Introduction: Sordaria fimicola belongs to the kingdom of fungi and is part of the phylum Ascosmycota. This fungus habitat is in the feces of herbivores. As many fungi, Sordaria have one life cycle which is haploid/ diploid. It is commonly exited as a haploid organism, but when the mycelium of two individuals meets, the result is a diploid zygote.
Yellow fever is a deadly disease caused by a viral infection that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although it is found to be most common in males in their early 20's, yellow fever can affect any sex, race, or age. Since yellow fever is carried by mosquitoes, it is most often found in areas such as Central America, the northern half of South America, and Central Africa where mosquitoes are abundant. The reason why it is found so often in these regions is because they are very close to the equatorial line, and are there for hot, moist, tropical environs.
However, as the systemic phase of the illness begins; characterized by fever, chills, malaise and headache, the bite wound becomes swollen and indurated and is often associated with regional adenopathy. The bite site may ulcerate and pregress to a chancre-like lesion. A macular violaceous rash may occur involving extremities, face, and trunk. Joint manifestations are rare. Laboratory studies reveal a leukocytosis and up to 50% of infected have a false-positive serologic test for syphilis. Without antimicrobial therapy, the fever abates over 3-5 days only to recur at regular intervals of 3-10 days. Although relapses have been described to occur for years, spontaneous resolution usually occurs in 1 to 2 months. Without treatment mortality is around