Dogs May Predict Valley Fever Spread in Humans, Says UC Davis Study

Dogs May Predict Valley Fever Spread in Humans, Says UC Davis Study

Dogs Could Help Predict Valley Fever in Humans

A UC Davis study reveals that dogs may serve as early indicators for Valley fever, a disease caused by a soil-dwelling fungus.

What Is Valley Fever?

Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal disease that spreads when spores are inhaled from disturbed soil, especially during droughts.

Climate Change Fuels Disease Conditions

The fungus thrives after heavy rains followed by drought, a pattern growing more common in the western U.S. due to climate change.

Dogs as Early Sentinels

“Dogs are sentinels for human infections,” said lead author Jane Sykes from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Massive Dog Study Spanning 10 Years

Researchers analyzed nearly 835,000 dog antibody tests collected from 2012 to 2022. Roughly 40% of the samples tested positive.

Widening Geographic Spread

In 2012, dog infections were found in 2.4% of U.S. counties. By 2022, this grew to 12.4% of counties, including non-endemic areas.

Infections Outside Traditional Zones

Researchers found dog cases in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Idaho—states not traditionally known for Valley fever outbreaks.

Dogs Travel Less Than Humans

The data strongly suggests local infections. Unlike humans, dogs rarely travel long distances, reinforcing the localized nature of exposure.

Correlation With Human Hotspots

The study found dog infections closely aligned with human infection hotspots like Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

Arizona Leads in Positive Cases

Arizona accounted for 91.5% of positive dog cases. California followed with 3.7%, while other states made up the remaining percentage.

Dog Case Rates Still Rising

Every state testing more than 0.50 dogs per 10,000 households per year saw a rise in canine Valley fever rates over time.

At-Risk Breeds Identified

Dog breeds that enjoy digging, such as terriers and larger dogs, face higher exposure and infection risks.

Symptoms Mirror Human Disease

In dogs, the fungus targets the lungs and may spread to the bones, skin, or brain. Some dogs require lifelong antifungal treatment.

Dog Deaths Emphasize Severity

The infection can be fatal in dogs, emphasizing its seriousness and making them valuable models for human infection study.

New Frontiers in Disease Research

Sykes believes dogs are an underutilized model in human disease research, offering insights into prevention and treatment.

Potential to Improve Human Diagnosis

Understanding how the disease develops in dogs may lead to better diagnostic tools and reduce misdiagnosis in humans.

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