Exposure to Coccidioides spp. and silent infection in Sonora, Mexico: A cross-sectional serological and environmental analysis.
Seroprevalence of anti-Coccidioides IgG antibodies is 7.3% among residents in nine municipalities of Sonora, Mexico, indicating widespread exposure to Coccidioides spp. in an endemic region.
- Why it matters: Understanding population-level exposure to coccidioidomycosis is crucial for addressing underdiagnosis and implementing effective public health strategies in Mexico’s endemic areas.
- What they did: A cross-sectional serosurvey analyzed 534 serum samples from various municipalities, assessing IgG antibodies and environmental factors, notably bioclimatic variables like temperature seasonality.
- The result: Findings suggest significant environmental links, especially temperature seasonality, and reveal a high percentage of indeterminate results, emphasizing the need for revised serological thresholds to better estimate the hidden disease burden.