title: Yersinia pseudotuberculosis septicemia in a beaver from Washington State.
abstract: An emaciated, free-ranging, sub-adult, male beaver (Castor canadensis) was found dead and was necropsied. Microscopically, the beaver had acute necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis with florid lobulated colonies of extracellular coccobacilli. Intravascular septic emboli were identified in lung, small intestine, and kidney, and discrete ulcers with scattered superficial extracellular accumulation of coccobacilli were noted on tail margins and plantar surfaces of the hind feet. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was cultured on Columbia blood and MacConkey agar and identified by API 20E. Based on the pathology and acute mortality described in this case, as well as historical reports of Y. pseudotuberculosis related mortality in other beavers, this species could serve as a public health sentinel for localized occurrences of this bacterium.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Health Center-Orcas Island Office, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, 942 Deer Harbor Road, Eastsound, Washington 98245, USA. jkgaydos@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Gaydos
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zabek
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raverty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008297:Male; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012377:Rodentia; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015012:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*