Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is a disease endemic to arid regions in the western hemisphere, and is caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis). In this paper, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding valley fever and C. immitis as related to climatic conditions and habitat requirements. Previous research shows there is a relationship between temperature and precipitation, and outbreaks of coccidioidomycosis. Incidence of the disease varies seasonally as well as annually due to changing climatic conditions. However, the specific environmental conditions that may produce an outbreak of coccidioidomycosis are not well understood in space and time. Previous studies have attempted characterize C. immitis' habitat. Temperature, moisture, salinity, and pH of the soil have all been considered separately in the geographic distribution of the fungus. Medical and proactive intervention are served best, however, by an integrative strategy that folds climate and surface variables into spatially-explicit models. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 31-42 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Aerobiologia |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2001 |
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Keywords
- Climate and health
- Coccidioides immitis
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Disease mapping
- Environmental modeling
- Infectious disease
- Southwest United States
- Spatial variability
- Temporal variability
- Valley fever
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Plant Science
Cite this
Environmental variability and coccidioidomycosis (valley fever). / Kolivras, Korine N.; Johnson, Peter S.; Comrie, Andrew; Yool, Stephen.
In: Aerobiologia, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2001, p. 31-42.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental variability and coccidioidomycosis (valley fever)
AU - Kolivras, Korine N.
AU - Johnson, Peter S.
AU - Comrie, Andrew
AU - Yool, Stephen
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is a disease endemic to arid regions in the western hemisphere, and is caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis). In this paper, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding valley fever and C. immitis as related to climatic conditions and habitat requirements. Previous research shows there is a relationship between temperature and precipitation, and outbreaks of coccidioidomycosis. Incidence of the disease varies seasonally as well as annually due to changing climatic conditions. However, the specific environmental conditions that may produce an outbreak of coccidioidomycosis are not well understood in space and time. Previous studies have attempted characterize C. immitis' habitat. Temperature, moisture, salinity, and pH of the soil have all been considered separately in the geographic distribution of the fungus. Medical and proactive intervention are served best, however, by an integrative strategy that folds climate and surface variables into spatially-explicit models. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.
AB - Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is a disease endemic to arid regions in the western hemisphere, and is caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis). In this paper, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding valley fever and C. immitis as related to climatic conditions and habitat requirements. Previous research shows there is a relationship between temperature and precipitation, and outbreaks of coccidioidomycosis. Incidence of the disease varies seasonally as well as annually due to changing climatic conditions. However, the specific environmental conditions that may produce an outbreak of coccidioidomycosis are not well understood in space and time. Previous studies have attempted characterize C. immitis' habitat. Temperature, moisture, salinity, and pH of the soil have all been considered separately in the geographic distribution of the fungus. Medical and proactive intervention are served best, however, by an integrative strategy that folds climate and surface variables into spatially-explicit models. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.
KW - Climate and health
KW - Coccidioides immitis
KW - Coccidioidomycosis
KW - Disease mapping
KW - Environmental modeling
KW - Infectious disease
KW - Southwest United States
KW - Spatial variability
KW - Temporal variability
KW - Valley fever
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035127933&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035127933&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1007619813435
DO - 10.1023/A:1007619813435
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035127933
VL - 17
SP - 31
EP - 42
JO - Aerobiologia
JF - Aerobiologia
SN - 0393-5965
IS - 1
ER -