TULAREMIA TRANSMITTED BY TICKS (DERMACENTOR-ANDERSONI) IN SASKATCHEWAN

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (4) , 408-411
Abstract
Common wood ticks (D. andersoni) collected from Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, Saskatchewan in the spring of 1982 transmitted a lethal tularaemia infection to 4 of 6 rabbits. Francisella tularensis organisms were isolated from tissues taken from the dead rabbits and identified from subcultures using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. One human associated with the animals developed symptoms of tularaemia and, after successful therapy, had a significant increase in titer of specific antibodies to F. tularensis. This is the first time tick-transmitted tularaemia has been reported in Saskatchewan in more than 25 yr.