An outbreak of tularemia in a colony of outdoor-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Comp Med. 2012 Aug;62(4):316-21.

Abstract

Since an epizootic and detection of clinical cases of tularemia (Francisella tularensis) in 1996 at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, only 8 cases were identified in the succeeding 13 y. However, within a period of 7 mo, primarily during Winter 2010, 6 rhesus macaques were confirmed positive for Francisella tularensis type B by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by culture and fluorescent antibody testing. All cases had similar gross pathologic findings, which included necrotizing splenitis and lymphadenitis. Recent colony management efforts have focused on minimizing nonhuman primate exposure to commonly observed reservoir species and controlling rodent access to corral-style housing. Strategies continue to evolve with regard to managing a large breeding colony of nonhuman primates in the presence of this threat.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Laboratory*
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / veterinary
  • Francisella tularensis*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Macaca mulatta*
  • Male
  • Monkey Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Monkey Diseases / microbiology*
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Tularemia / epidemiology
  • Tularemia / veterinary*