Journal article
A microbial risk assessor's guide to Valley Fever (Coccidioides spp.): Case study and review of risk factors
The Science of the total environment, v 917, 170141
17 Jan 2024
PMID: 38242485
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Valley Fever is a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of arthroconidia, a type of spore produced by fungi within the genus Coccidioides spp. which are found in dry, hot ecosystems of the Western Hemisphere. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for the disease has not yet been performed due to a lack of dose-response models and a scarcity of quantitative occurrence data from environmental samples. A literature review was performed to gather data on experimental animal dosing studies, environmental occurrence, human disease outbreaks, and meteorological associations. As a result, a risk framework is presented with information for parameterizing QMRA models for Coccidioides spp., with eight new dose-response models proposed. A probabilistic QMRA was conducted for a Southwestern US agricultural case study, evaluating eight scenarios related to farming occupational exposures. Median daily workday risks for developing Valley Fever ranged from 2.53 × 10
(planting by hand while wearing an N95 facemask) to 1.33 × 10
(machine harvesting while not wearing a facemask). The literature review and QMRA synthesis confirmed that exposure to aerosolized arthroconidia has the potential to result in high attack rates but highlighted that the mechanistic relationships between environmental conditions and disease remain poorly understood. Recommendations for Valley Fever risk assessment research needs in order to reduce disease risks are discussed, including interventions for farmers.
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Details
- Title
- A microbial risk assessor's guide to Valley Fever (Coccidioides spp.): Case study and review of risk factors
- Creators
- David Kahn - Department of Civil Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAWilliam Chen - University of Notre DameYarrow Linden - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillKaralee A Corbeil - Department of Water Management and Hydrological Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 79016, USASarah Lowry - Stanford UniversityCiara A Higham - University of LeedsKarla S Mendez - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonPaige Burch - Seaford High School, 1575 Seamans Neck Rd, Seaford, NY 11783, USATaylor DiFondi - Seaford High School, 1575 Seamans Neck Rd, Seaford, NY 11783, USAMarc Verhougstraete - University of ArizonaAnneclaire J De Roos - Drexel UniversityCharles N Haas - Drexel UniversityCharles Gerba - University of ArizonaKerry A Hamilton
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, v 917, 170141
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001174008500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85183578918
- Other Identifier
- 991021822907804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences