Soil and climactic predictors of canine coccidioidomycosis seroprevalence in Washington State: An ecological cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: Coccidioidomycosis is a predominantly respiratory infection of animals and humans caused by soil-dwelling fungi. Long known to be endemic to North American deserts, locally acquired human cases first emerged in Washington State in 2010. To inform development of an environmental niche map, we conducted an ecological cross-sectional study of the association between soil and climactic variables and canine seroprevalence in Washington State, at the zip code tabulation area level. Soil predictors included soil texture (per cent sand, silt and clay), pH, electrical conductivity and water storage capacity; climactic predictors included mean annual air temperature and liquid precipitation. Clustering was evaluated with Moran's I, and four modelling approaches were adopted a priori: two models with

SUBMITTER: Meisner J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6813807 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature