Raccoons and skunks as sentinels for enzootic tularemia.
We analyzed sera from diverse mammals of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, for evidence of Francisella tularensis exposure. Skunks and raccoons were frequently seroreactive, whereas white-footed mice, cottontail rabbits, deer, rats, and dogs were not. Tularemia surveillance may be facilitated by focusing on skunks and raccoons.
Berrada
Zenda L
ZL
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA.
Goethert
Heidi K
HK
Telford
Sam R
SR
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011821:Raccoons / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014406:Tularemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial