Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ajello L. A comparitive study of pulmonary mycoses of Canada and the United States. Publ Healt Rep 1969; 84: 869–77.
Atoud-Ortega AF, Harris AF, Rozdilsky R. Chronic coccidioidal meningitis. Can Med Ass J 1975; 105: 613–17.
Bain GO, Carmichael JW, Elliott JF. Residual pulmonary coccidioidal granuloma. Can Med Ass J 1956; 75: 216–8.
Danoff D, Munk ZM, Case B, Finlayson M, Gold P. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis: clinical, immunological and therapeutic aspects. Can Med Ass J 1978; 118: 390–2.
DiSalvo AF, Sekhon AS, Land GA, Fleming WH. Evaluation of the exoantigen test for identification of Histoplasma species and Coccidioides immitis cultures. J Clin Microbiol 1980; 11: 238–41.
Dixon JMS. Impact of the mycoses in Canada and strategies for their control. pp 28–33. In: Proc. VI International Conference on the Mycoses. Scientific Publication No. 749. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C. 1986.
Gropper PT, Pisesky WA, Brown V, Clement PB. Flexor tenosynovitis caused by Coccidioides immitis. J Hand Surgery 1983; 8: 344–7.
Hazen EL, Gordon MA, Reed FC. Laboratory Identification of Pathogenic Fungi, A Text. 3rd ed. Charles C. Thomas, Publishers, Springfield, Ill. 1973.
Howes SF, Penny JM, Chamberland GE. A solitary pulmonary lesion due to Coccidioides immitis. Can Med Ass J 1968; 99: 1007–8.
Kapica L, Matouk E, O'Halewyn MA. Diagnosing coccidioidomycosis outside an endemic area. A recent case in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mycopathologia 1983; 82: 95–9.
Kaufman L, Reiss E. Serodiagnosis of Fungal Diseases. pp. 924–944. In: Man Clin Microbiol 4th Edition. (ed) Lennette EH, A Balows, WJ Hausler, Jr. and HJ Shadomy. Am Soc Microbiol, Washington, D.C. 1985.
Lafleur R, Grondin C, Roberge R. Coccidioidomycose et neoplasia pulmonaire: à propos d'un cas. Vie Medicale au Canada Française 1979; 8: 951–5.
Lamer L, Paquin F, Lorange G, Bayardelle P. Macular coccidioidomycosis. Can J Ophthalmol 1982; 17: 121–3.
Mankiewicz E, Henderson JAM, Bleand JE. Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. Can Med Ass J 1968; 99: 1003–6.
McLetchie NGB, Reid N, Simpson DM. Coccidioidomycosis. Can Med Ass J 1952; 67: 655–8.
Palmer DF, Kaufman L, Kaplan W, Cavallaro JJ. Serodiagnosis of mycotic diseases. Charles C. Thomas, Publishers, Springfield. Ill. 1977.
Pappagianis D. Epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis. pp. 63–85. In: Coccidioidomycis, A Test, DA Stevens (ed). Plenum Medical Book Company, New York and London. 1980.
Rapley WA, Long JR. Coccidioidomycosis in a baboon recently imported from California. Can Vet J 1974; 15: 39–41.
Reid GD, Klinkhoff A, Bozek C, Demegri JF. Coccidiooidomycosis tenosynovitis: Case report and review of literature. J Rheumatol 1984; 11: 392–4.
Rippon JW. Medical Mycology. The Pathogenic Fungi and the Pathogenic Actinomycetes, 3rd ed. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, Pa. 1988.
Robinson Y. Skeletal coccidioidomycosis in a collie dog. Can Vet J 1978; 19: 272–6.
Standard PG, Kaufman L. Immunological procedure for the rapid and specific identification of Coccidioides immitis cultures. J Clin Microbiol 1977; 5: 149–53.
Wilson JAS, Munro DD. Surgical treatment of mycotic infections of the lung. Can Med Ass J 1967; 97: 166–73.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sekhon, A.S., Isaac-Renton, J., Dixon, J.M.S. et al. Review of human and animal cases of coccidioidomycosis diagnosed in Canada. Mycopathologia 113, 1–10 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436377
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436377