Natural Infection of a European Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) with Francisella tularensis subsp. Holarctica

Simone R R Pisano; Sonja Kittl; Ulrike Eulenberger; Joerg Jores; Francesco C Origgi

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-20-00182

Natural Infection of a European Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) with Francisella tularensis subsp. Holarctica

J Wildl Dis. 2021 Oct 1;57(4):970-973. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-20-00182.

Authors

Simone R R Pisano¹, Sonja Kittl², Ulrike Eulenberger³, Joerg Jores², Francesco C Origgi¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Fish and Wildlife Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
² Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
³ Stiftung Wildstation Landshut, Schlossstrasse 21, 3427 Utzenstorf, Switzerland.

PMID: 34424987
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-20-00182

Abstract

Postmortem examination and immunohistochemical and bacteriologic analyses on a free-ranging European red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) revealed a systemic infection with Francisella tularensis. Genome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis were consistent with F. tularensis subs. holarctica clade B.45. Tularemia has not previously been reported in this species.

MeSH terms

Animals
Francisella
Francisella tularensis*
Rodent Diseases* / epidemiology
Sciuridae
Tularemia* / epidemiology
Tularemia* / veterinary

Supplementary concepts

Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica