Date of Graduation

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Catanzaro, Donald

Committee Member/Reader

Willson, J.D.

Committee Member/Second Reader

Egan, Martin

Committee Member/Third Reader

Plavcan, Joseph

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis, commonly referred to as Valley Fever, is a fungal infection found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Infection occurs through inhalation of airborne spores from Coccidioides species, Coccidioides immitis and/or Coccidioides posadasii, and proceeds in both pulmonary and disseminated fashions. Approximately 60% of patients with coccidioidomycosis remain asymptomatic, while 40% will experience symptoms. Within the literature, there are no papers that summarize sensitivity and specificity values between different tests; therefore, this paper presents sensitivity and specificity results across different tests and companies (Meridian, IMMY, and MiraVista).

Keywords

Coccidioidomycosis, Valley Fever, enzyme immunoassay, diagnosis, sensitivity, specificity

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