Integrating Public Health Surveillance and Environmental Data to Model Presence of Histoplasma in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the United States, the true geographic distribution of the environmental fungus Histoplasma capsulatum remains poorly understood but appears to have changed since it was first characterized. Histoplasmosis is caused by inhalation of the fungus and can range in severity from asymptomatic to life-threatening. Due to limited public health surveillance and under detection of infections, it is challenging to directly use reported case data to characterize spatial risk.

Methods

Using monthly and yearly county-level public health surveillance data and various environmental and socioeconomic characteristics, we use a spatio-temporal occupancy model to estimate latent, or unobserved, presence of H. capsulatum, accounting for imperfect detection of histoplasmosis cases.<

SUBMITTER: Hepler SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9345522 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature