Coccidioides grows in soils under what environmental conditions?

Coccidioides grows in soils under what environmental conditions?

• A. High rainfall and cold winters
• B. Low rainfall, high summer temperatures, and moderate winter temperatures
• C. High humidity year-round
• D. Permafrost regions only

Answer: (B)

Coccidioides is a soil-dwelling fungus that thrives in arid, desert-like environments. It grows best when rainfall is low and temperatures are hot in summer with moderate winter temperatures. In these dry soils, the mold form develops and produces arthroconidia, which can be dispersed by dust. This is why the organism is classically associated with arid regions of the southwestern United States and similar climates. High humidity year-round or permafrost regions do not provide the dry, warm conditions that favor its soil growth, so those settings are not typical for its growth.

Coccidioides is a soil-dwelling fungus that thrives in arid, desert-like environments. It grows best when rainfall is low and temperatures are hot in summer with moderate winter temperatures. In these dry soils, the mold form develops and produces arthroconidia, which can be dispersed by dust. This is why the organism is classically associated with arid regions of the southwestern United States and similar climates. High humidity year-round or permafrost regions do not provide the dry, warm conditions that favor its soil growth, so those settings are not typical for its growth.