The costs of the diagnosis and treatment of canine coccidioidomycosis in endemic regions, USA, 2022.

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis ("Valley fever") is a fungal disease that causes a wide range of illness severity in animals and people. Here, we use U.S. Census data, surveys of pet ownership demographics, and results of a nation-wide dog serologic study to estimate the financial burden of the disease to dog owners. We estimate that the one-year cost of diagnosis and treatment for uncomplicated pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in dogs across 6 endemic southwestern U.S. states ranged from $60,117,875 to $74,858,713 before adjusting for inflation. The financial burden to dog owners for uncomplicated illness was 9-11 % of discretionary income during the first year of diagnosis and treatment. Adjusting for inflation from 2019 to 2022, the year of our coccidioidomycosis incidence data, the costs increase to $73,944,986 to $92,076,217 annually. In 2025 this increases further to $90,176,812 to $112,288,070. Though there is a lack of specific case numbers of disseminated or complicated coccidioidomycosis, the cost of care for dogs that require emergency care, advanced diagnostics, surgery, and second and third line drugs is higher, putting greater financial strain on dog owners.