Wild lagomorphs as potential sources of Francisella tularensis in an urban zoo: a case study.

Autor: Maddock KJ; Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA., Rickey CV; Red River Zoo, Fargo, ND, USA., Pecoraro HL; Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc [J Vet Diagn Invest] 2024 Sep; Vol. 36 (5), pp. 750-753. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Apr 23.
DOI: 10.1177/10406387241248608
Abstrakt: A 9-y-old captive male Pallas' cat ( Otocolobus manul ) had a 1-mo history of worsening lameness and was euthanized. The animal was submitted to the North Dakota State University-Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for autopsy with differential diagnoses of suspected degenerative joint disease or neoplasia. Autopsy revealed icteric tissues and pinpoint foci in the liver, spleen, and all lung lobes. PCR testing was positive for Francisella tularensis , the causative agent of tularemia. Additional cases of tularemia were later identified in wild eastern cottontail rabbits found dead at the same urban zoo. Tularemia has been reported in captive non-human primates and rodent populations with one case linked to wild lagomorph exposure, which was likely the route of exposure in our Pallas' cat case. Tularemia is an occupational risk for zoo staff and laboratorians. Pest management and disease surveillance of wild lagomorph populations in zoos are important preventive measures.
Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Databáze: MEDLINE