EPIDEMIOLOGIC RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE SYSTEMIC MYCOSES

Abstract

A prevalence study was designed to evaluate host and seasonal risk factors associated with three systemic mycoses in dogs: blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis was the most commonly diagnosed of the three diseases. All three of the mycoses occurred more frequently in male than female dogs. Compared to dogs less than 2 years of age, those 4--7 years of age were at increased risk of developing coccidioidomycosis whereas dogs 2--7 years of age were at increased risk of developing histoplasmosis. Three breeds, i.e., Pointer, Weimaraner and Brittany Spaniel, had increased risk of having histoplasmosis infections. Seasonal analysis with an epidemiologic trend model indicated that all three systemic mycoses have different but strong seasonal trends.