Enzootic Maintenance of Sylvatic Plague in Canada's Threatened Black‐Tailed Prairie Dog Ecosystem

Abstract

Limited knowledge exists regarding the transmission ecology of sylvatic plague in Canada. We integrated data on black-tailed prairie dog (BTPD) density and occupancy, information on flea distribution, abundance and prevalence of Yersinia pestis infection, and response of these variables to plague management. We determined that current ecological conditions make plague epizootics unlikely, but that enzootic plague may be causing chronic mortality in the BTPD population. Continued plague surveillance and research are warranted in consideration of a warming climate, which has potential to extend vector life cycles, alter flea community composition and host–parasite interactions, and shift the geographic range of plague. These photographs illustrate the article “Enzootic maintenance of sylvatic plague in Canada's threatened black-tailed prairie dog ecosystem” by Stefano Liccioli, Tara Stephens, Sian C. Wilson, Jana M. McPherson, Laura M. Keating, Kym S. Antonation, Trent K. Bollinger, Cindi R. Corbett, David L. Gummer, L. Robbin Lindsay, Terry D. Galloway, Todd K. Shury and Axel Moehrenschlager published in Ecosphere. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3138