Valley Fever in Dogs Spreads to 12.4% of U.S. Counties

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A groundbreaking study from the University of California, Davis has revealed that dogs can act as sentinels for Valley fever, a fungal infection.

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Dogs are sentinels for human infections," explains lead author Jane Sykes, professor of small animal internal medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

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Valley fever, scientifically known as coccidioidomycosis, is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist soils and becomes airborne during drought conditions.

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These weather patterns create ideal conditions for the fungus to grow during wet periods and then disperse during dry spells.

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Sykes and her colleagues found that Valley fever in dogs expanded from just 2.4% of U.S. counties in 2012 to 12.4% by 2022—a five-fold increase in just a decade.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers Valley fever endemic in parts of six states: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.

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Dogs that enjoy digging—which includes most medium-to-large breeds and especially terriers—face higher risk of exposure.

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Sykes emphasizes that "the sheer number of cases cannot be explained by dogs visiting other states, since dogs travel far less frequently than humans.

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By studying the disease in our four-legged friends, scientists may develop new diagnostic tests and treatments that benefit humans as well.

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The study was a collaborative effort between UC Davis and UC Berkeley.

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