Vector borne and zoonotic diseases
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Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. · Jan 2005
A preliminary study of the patterns of Sin Nombre viral infection and shedding in naturally infected deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).
Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were trapped in southern Manitoba, Canada and tested for evidence of Sin Nombre virus infection. Viral genome was amplified from tissues as well as saliva/oropharyngeal fluid, and urine samples were collected from seropositive animals. Detection of viral RNA in tissue samples and excreta/secreta from mice suggest that differences may exist between naturally infected rodents with respect to viral shedding.
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Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. · Jan 2005
Evidence of tick-borne organisms in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) from the western United States.
Free-ranging mule deer (MD; Odocoileus hemionus) from Arizona and California were tested for evidence of infection with several tick-borne pathogens, including species of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia, and Borrelia. Of 125 mule deer tested from Arizona, 29 (23%) and 11 (9%) had antibodies reactive to E. chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum by indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing, respectively; none of the six MD tested from California were seropositive. Using a commercial competitive ELISA kit, antibodies reactive to Anaplasma spp. were detected in 19 (15%) MD from Arizona and four of six (67%) MD from California. ⋯ This is the first report of a mule deer naturally infected with A. ovis. Ten of 11 MD from California were infected with a Babesia-like organism previously associated with human disease, and a single MD was PCR positive for Borrelia coriaceae, which has been associated with epizootic bovine abortion. Together, these data suggest that MD in northern Arizona and eastern California are exposed to several pathogens of human and veterinary importance.