Valley Fever: Environmental Risk Factors and Exposure Pathways Deduced from Field Measurements in California

Antje Lauer, Vicken Etyemezian, George Nikolich, Carl Kloock, Angel Franco Arzate, Fazalath Sadiq Batcha, Manpreet Kaur, Eduardo Garcia, Jasleen Mander and Alyce Kayes Passaglia
Additional contact information
Antje Lauer: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Vicken Etyemezian: Desert Research Institute (DRI), Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA
George Nikolich: Desert Research Institute (DRI), Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA
Carl Kloock: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Angel Franco Arzate: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Fazalath Sadiq Batcha: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Manpreet Kaur: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Eduardo Garcia: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Jasleen Mander: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA
Alyce Kayes Passaglia: Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-33

Abstract: Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, has been reported among military personnel in Coccidioides -endemic areas of the southwestern United States since World War II. In this study, the prevalence of Coccidioides was confirmed in different soil and dust samples collected near three military bases in California using DNA extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Analyses of physical and chemical parameters revealed no significant differences between Coccidioides -positive and -negative sites. Soil samples collected in the Mojave Desert (near Twentynine Palms MCAGCC) showed the highest percentage of Coccidioides -positive soil and dust samples. Samples from the San Joaquin Valley (near NAS Lemoore) showed the lowest percentage of positive samples and were restricted to remnants of semi-natural areas between agricultural fields. Our results suggest that soil disturbance around all three military bases investigated poses a potential Coccidioides exposure risk for military personnel and the public. We conclude that once lands have been severely disturbed from their original state, they become less suitable for Coccidioides growth. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding exposure where disturbance of soils that exhibit natural or remnants of native vegetation (Creosote and Salt Bush) generate a high risk of exposure to the pathogen, likely during dry periods. In contrast, Coccidioides -positive sites, when undisturbed, will not pose a high risk of exposure.

Keywords: Coccidioides; coccidioidomycosis; dust; exposure; fungus; health hazard; military; Mojave Desert; pathogen; PM10; soil; Valley fever (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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