Laboratory analysis of tularemia in wild-trapped, commercially traded prairie dogs, Texas, 2002.
Oropharyngeal tularemia was identified as the cause of a die-off in captured wild prairie dogs at a commercial exotic animal facility in Texas. From this point source, Francisella tularensis-infected prairie dogs were traced to animals distributed to the Czech Republic and to a Texas pet shop. F. tularensis culture isolates were recovered tissue specimens from 63 prairie dogs, including one each from the secondary distribution sites. Molecular and biochemical subtyping indicated that all isolates were F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (Type B). Microagglutination assays detected antibodies against F. tularensis, with titers as great as 1:4,096 in some live animals. All seropositive animals remained culture positive, suggesting that prairie dogs may act as chronic carriers of F. tularensis. These findings demonstrate the need for additional studies of tularemia in prairie dogs, given the seriousness of the resulting disease, the fact that prairie dogs are sold commercially as pets, and the risk for pet-to-human transmission.
Petersen
Jeannine M
JM
Diagnostic and Reference Section, Bacterial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PO Box 2087, Rampart Road, Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA. nzp0@cdc.gov
Schriefer
Martin E
ME
Carter
Leon G
LG
Zhou
Yan
Y
Sealy
Tara
T
Bawiec
Darcy
D
Yockey
Brook
B
Urich
Sandra
S
Zeidner
Nordin S
NS
Avashia
Swati
S
Kool
Jacob L
JL
Buck
Jan
J
Lindley
Connie
C
Celeda
Leos
L
Monteneiri
John A
JA
Gage
Kenneth L
KL
Chu
May C
MC
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012589:Sciuridae; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial