title: Field detection of Francisella tularensis.
abstract: A field investigation was undertaken following an outbreak of water-borne tularemia in Northern Norway. Francisella tularensis bacterial cellular components were analysed by rapid immunochromatography (RI)-testing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Water from 1 reservoir, fed from a rapid stream, tested negative. From another reservoir, 2 of a chain of 3 wells tested negative. The third well, at the end of the chain, contained lemming (Lemmus lemmus) carcasses and gave ample proof of F. tularensis contamination. We concluded that the origin of the outbreak was dead, infective lemming carcasses in the water sources. For the various sampling materials, the RI-test proved itself particularly handy and versatile, compared with the ELISA and the PCR.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Armed Forces Medical Services, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Berdal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haaheim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Løksa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grunow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burans
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D002845:Chromatography / Q000295:instrumentation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply