Serological Investigation of Wild Boars (Sus Scrofa) and Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) As Indicator Animals for Circulation of Francisella Tularensis in Germany

Overview

Journal Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Public Health
Veterinary Medicine

Date 2013 Dec 24

PMID 24359418

Citations 12

Authors

Peter Otto

Valerie Chaignat

Diana Klimpel

Roland Diller

Falk Melzer

Wolfgang Muller

Herbert Tomaso

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tularemia outbreaks in humans have recently been reported in many European countries, but data on the occurrence in the animal population are scarce. In North America, seroconversion of omnivores and carnivores was used as indicator for the presence of tularemia, for the European fauna, however, data are barely available. Therefore, the suitability of wild boars (Sus scrofa) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as indicators for the circulation of F. tularensis in Germany was evaluated. Serum samples from 566 wild boars and 457 red foxes were collected between 1995 and 2012 in three federal states in Central Germany (Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia). The overall rate of seropositive animals was 1.1% in wild boars and 7.4% in red foxes. In conclusion, serological examination of red foxes is recommended, because they can be reliably used as indicator animals for the presence of F. tularensis in the environment.

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