title: Raccoons and skunks as sentinels for enzootic tularemia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA.
authors.forename: Zenda L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Berrada
authors.forename: Heidi K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Goethert
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Telford
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial