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

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; Mojave Desert; PM10; Valley fever; coccidioidomycosis; dust; exposure; fungus; health hazard; military; pathogen; soil.