Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for Coccidioides infection in young dogs in Arizona
By Butkiewicz, Christine D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Risk factors associated with Coccidioides infection in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs living in areas where Coccidioides fungus is common, like parts of Arizona, are at higher risk of infection if they spend a lot of time outdoors. Puppies and young dogs that roamed freely on large properties or walked in desert areas were more likely to test positive for the infection. In contrast, dogs that mostly stayed indoors or walked on sidewalks had a lower risk. This information can help pet owners understand the importance of monitoring their dog's outdoor activities in these regions.
People also search for: dog Coccidioides infection risk · puppy outdoor exposure disease · Arizona dog health concerns
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential risk factors for Coccidioides infection among dogs living in a region in which the organism is endemic (Pima and Maricopa counties, Arizona). DESIGN: Community-based longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. ANIMALS: 104 healthy 4- to 6-month-old puppies (longitudinal study) and 381 4- to 18-month-old dogs with unknown serostatus (cross-sectional study). PROCEDURE: Dogs in the longitudinal study were tested 3 times at 6-month intervals for anticoccidioidal antibodies; dogs in the cross-sectional study were tested only once. Owners of all dogs completed a questionnaire on potential environmental exposures. RESULTS: In the longitudinal study, the relative risk of infection for dogs that were outdoors during the day was 4.9 times the risk for dogs that were kept indoors. Seropositive dogs in the cross-sectional study were 6.2 times as likely to have access to > 1 acre to roam as were seronegative dogs. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds of infection increased with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.1), amount of roaming space (OR, 2.4), and walking in the desert (OR, 2.2). Walking on sidewalks had a protective effect (OR, 0.4). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that in regions in which the organism is endemic, dogs that spend more time outdoors or have more land in which to roam are at greater risk of infection with Coccidioides spp.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15938057/