Abstract
Laboratory trials conducted over the past decade at U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center indicate that wild populations of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) display different degrees of susceptibility to experimental challenge with fully virulent Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. We evaluated patterns in prairie dog susceptibility to plague to determine whether the historical occurrence of plague at location of capture was related to survival times of prairie dogs challenged with Y. pestis. We found that black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) from South Dakota (captured prior to the detection of plague in the state), Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) from Colorado, and Utah prairie dogs (Cynomys parvidens) from Utah were most susceptible to plague. Though the susceptibility of black‐tailed prairie dogs in South Dakota compared with western locations supports our hypothesis regarding historical exposure, both Colorado and Utah prairie dogs have a long history of exposure to plague. It is possible that for these populations, genetic isolation/bottle necks have made them more susceptible to plague outbreaks.
Highlights
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, periodically causes disease outbreaks in the western United States, resulting in wide‐ spread mortality of many native rodent species
In laboratory challenge trials using a single strain of Y. pestis, we found differences in relative plague susceptibility between prairie dog species and among populations within a species
Prairie dogs may be more adapted to a local strain of plague, suggesting different re‐ sults might be obtained with a different challenge isolate
Summary
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, periodically causes disease outbreaks in the western United States, resulting in wide‐ spread mortality of many native rodent species. Differential plague susceptibility has been observed in other rodent species as well, including northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster; Thomas et al, 1998), California vole (Microtus californicus; Hubbert & Goldenberg, 1970), rock squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus; Quan, Barnes, Carter, & Tsuchiya, 1985), and wild populations of black rat (R. rattus; Tollenaere et al, 2010). Plague susceptibility differed between black rat populations sampled in the central highlands (where Y. pestis is pres‐ ent) versus a low altitude plague‐free area (Tollenaere et al, 2010) Both studies concluded that historical exposure to plague outbreaks was likely responsible for the differences in observed survival rates. We explore potential factors associated with observed plague susceptibility to provide hypotheses for future studies
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