Over the past few years, the number of reported human cases of
the fungal infection coccidioidomycosis, or Valley Fever, has
increased in Los Angeles County and throughout the southwestern
United States. Several animal species are susceptible to this
infection, but serious infections are generally only seen in
dogs, cats and primates. Animals and people may become infected
when they breathe in dust from dry soil that is carrying the
fungus. The most common symptom in dogs is coughing, but may
also include low appetite, limping, enlarged joints, fever and
possibly diarrhea. Cats get infected less often, but may have
skin problems (abscesses, draining lesions), fever, low
appetite, and weight loss from the infection. This past year,
Veterinary Public Health partnered with the Acute Communicable
Disease Control program, which monitors human health in LA
County, to determine if animals were contracting this fungal
infection in the same areas as people were. In early 2007
Veterinary Public Health requested that LA