Announcements
Thank you to UAZ Campus Health Services for creating this informative video for students here at the University of Arizona!
Please submit your abstract by Feb 21, 2020 by following this link: http://coccistudygroup.com/abstract-submission/
We are studying dog immune responses to Valley Fever infection. The study has previously focused on dogs with severe disease and dogs that have antibody titers but no history of being sick. We would now like to study dogs with early stages of primary respiratory valley fever as well. These are dogs with symptoms of coughing, weight loss, fever, lack of appetite and lack of energy that have been diagnosed by a veterinarian less than 2 months ag
To be eligible for enrollment, the dog needs to have had at least one set of lung x-rays, a blood test positive for Valley Fever, and serum chemistries and a CBC. He/she also needs to weigh at least 10 lbs because we will draw about a tablespoon (10-12 mls) of blood
If you are interested in participating in this study, please call or email
Dr. Christine Butkiewicz 520-626-6527 cbutkiew@email.arizona.edu
Or
Dr. Lisa Shubitz 520-626-8198 Lfshubit@email.arizona.edu
Submissions for the second annual Valley Fever Poster contest are now open! The contest starts now and will end in the middle of Valley Fever Awareness Week, which is November 9-17th. Winners will be announced and prizes sent out soon after the competition ends on November 14th!
All Arizona residents 18 years and younger are eligible to participate by creating a poster that uses some (or all) of the following messages to increase the public’s knowledge about Valley Fever.
Want to enter?
Follow this link for more information!!
The 64th Annual Cocci Study Group will be held in Tucson on April 3rd and 4th!
We are currently looking volunteers in Tucson,Arizona for a study to determine an appropriate dose of fluconazole in alpacas. Enrolled alpacas must be over 1 year of age, not pregnant or recently bred, and in good health. Owners of participants will administer fluconazole by mouth once a day for 14 days, and study personnel will collect four blood samples on the last day. Ideally, alpacas will be enrolled into the study in groups of 2. For more information, please contact Dr. Lisa Shubitz (lfshubit@email.arizona.edu) or Dr. Christine Butkiewicz (cbutkiew@email.arizona.edu). This work is generously supported by the Morris Animal Foundation.
Attached is a flyer that describes the eligibility for this study, as well as other important details. For more details please visit: https://dhvi.duke.edu/new-study-works-understand-prevalence-valley-fever
Dr. Galgiani unveiled his new Banner Valley Fever Toolkit on September 20, 2018.
The third addition of the Valley Fever Manual has been finished! Click here: Valley Fever Training Manual to see the new manual!
Valley Fever Awareness Week is here! Click on the link below to view the 2019 proclamation!
Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, introduced H.R. 6562, the bipartisan FORWARD Act with fellow Co-Chairman Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-6) and Task Force Members Congresswoman Martha McSally (AZ-2), Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9). This legislation would strengthen research and help advance treatment and vaccine development for Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, as well as other orphan endemic fungal diseases. Check out the link below to read about this legislation as well as a quote from Dr. Galgiani!
Studies to develop a vaccine to prevent Valley Fever in dogs have made significant progress! Utilizing funds donated to the Valley Fever Vaccine Project, we have completed the first tier of protection and safety studies in mice; we are in the process of creating a second-generation mutant strain to meet regulatory requirements prior to determining that the vaccine can prevent Valley Fever in dogs.
These new guidelines for primary care professionals include recommendations for diagnosing and managing early valley fever infections.
Medscape, LLC designates this free Online CME for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. To access the CME please click below, then register (for free) and log into Medscape.
For a directory of doctors with experience in treating valley fever, in Tucson and Phoenix, please click here: