Development of a rapid, cost-effective TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay for identification and differentiation of<i>Coccidioides immitis</i>and<i>Coccidioides posadasii</i>

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. We developed a TaqMan real-time PCR assay that rapidly and accurately differentiates the species. This assay can be used as a tool to improve disease surveillance, increase understanding of the natural history of the infection, and assist in clinical differentiation studies.