Clinical and serologic variables associated with dissemination and seasonal presentation in dogs with newly diagnosed coccidioidomycosis.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, United States.
- 2MiraVista Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN 46241, United States.
- 3Department of Small Animal Primary Care, Shelter, and Community Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, United States.
- 4Veterinary Neurological Center, Phoenix, AZ 85040, United States.
- 5Tucson Veterinary Specialists, Tucson, AZ 85704, United States.
- 6Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, United States.
Abstract
Background
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis in dogs is associated with substantial morbidity, yet distinguishing pulmonary from disseminated disease can be clinically challenging. Antibody serology might assist in predicting dissemination, but its performance across disease sites requires clarification.Hypothesis/objectives
To identify clinical and serologic variables associated with disseminated coccidioidomycosis and to evaluate differences in antibody magnitude among common sites of infection.Animals
Two hundred fourteen client-owned dogs with newly diagnosed coccidioidomycosis.Methods
Retrospective study. Anti-Coccidioides spp. immunoglobulin (Ig)G was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) at a reference laboratory.Results
Disease was classified as pulmonary in 148/214 (69%) and disseminated in 66/214 (31%). Higher EIA IgG concentration and AGID IgG titer were independently associated with dissemination. Enzyme immunoassay discriminated disseminated from pulmonary disease well (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.87), estimate likely representing an upper bound because serology contributed to case classification. Agar gel immunodiffusion performance was not statistically distinguishable (AUC: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67-0.82; P = .65). Exploratory cutpoints included an EIA IgG threshold of 37 enzyme immunoassay units (sensitivity 86%, specificity 63%) and an AGID IgG threshold of ≥1:32 (sensitivity 48%, specificity 86%). Pulmonary diagnoses were least common in spring and peaked in late fall and winter.Conclusions and clinical importance
Coccidioidal IgG serology might provide clinically useful adjunctive information when assessing dogs for disseminated coccidioidomycosis. However, overlap in serologic results between disease phenotypes precludes the use of serology alone to determine disease extent. Serologic results should therefore be interpreted alongside clinical findings and appropriate diagnostic evaluation.
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BibTeX
@article{chittick2026clinical,
title = {{Clinical and serologic variables associated with dissemination and seasonal presentation in dogs with newly diagnosed coccidioidomycosis.}},
author = {Lauren Chittick and Jared A Jaffey and Andrew S Hanzlicek and Rachael Kreisler and Laura H Rayhel and Jennifer Balaban and Cody Alcott and Christopher Adams and Aubrey G Gould},
journal = {Journal of veterinary internal medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1093/jvimsj/aalag278},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42955824},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Clinical and serologic variables associated with dissemination and seasonal presentation in dogs with newly diagnosed coccidioidomycosis.
AU - Lauren Chittick
AU - Jared A Jaffey
AU - Andrew S Hanzlicek
AU - Rachael Kreisler
AU - Laura H Rayhel
AU - Jennifer Balaban
AU - Cody Alcott
AU - Christopher Adams
AU - Aubrey G Gould
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of veterinary internal medicine
DO - 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag278
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42955824
AB - Background Disseminated coccidioidomycosis in dogs is associated with substantial morbidity, yet distinguishing pulmonary from disseminated disease can be clinically challenging. Antibody serology might assist in predicting dissemination, but its performance across disease sites requires clarification.Hypothesis/objectives To identify clinical and serologic variables associated with disseminated coccidioidomycosis and to evaluate differences in antibody magnitude among common sites of infection.Animals Two hundred fourteen client-owned dogs with newly diagnosed coccidioidomycosis.Methods Retrospective study. Anti-Coccidioides spp. immunoglobulin (Ig)G was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) at a reference laboratory.Results Disease was classified as pulmonary in 148/214 (69%) and disseminated in 66/214 (31%). Higher EIA IgG concentration and AGID IgG titer were independently associated with dissemination. Enzyme immunoassay discriminated disseminated from pulmonary disease well (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.87), estimate likely representing an upper bound because serology contributed to case classification. Agar gel immunodiffusion performance was not statistically distinguishable (AUC: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67-0.82; P = .65). Exploratory cutpoints included an EIA IgG threshold of 37 enzyme immunoassay units (sensitivity 86%, specificity 63%) and an AGID IgG threshold of ≥1:32 (sensitivity 48%, specificity 86%). Pulmonary diagnoses were least common in spring and peaked in late fall and winter.Conclusions and clinical importance Coccidioidal IgG serology might provide clinically useful adjunctive information when assessing dogs for disseminated coccidioidomycosis. However, overlap in serologic results between disease phenotypes precludes the use of serology alone to determine disease extent. Serologic results should therefore be interpreted alongside clinical findings and appropriate diagnostic evaluation.
SN - 0891-6640
SN - 1939-1676
ER -