Prevalence and distribution of plague and tularemia in small mammals of Grand Teton National Park

Authors(s): C. Gillin, A. Dagan and K. Marciniak

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

Type: progress report

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Abstract: Objectives Determine the prevalence of plague and tularemia, both zoonotic diseases, within the small mammal populations of Grand Teton National Park. Findings and Status A total of 128 animals were sampled, according to the following breakdown: 67 Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), 35 Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), 13 Uinta Ground Squirrels (Citellus armatus), 6 Least Chipmunks (Tamias minimus), 5 Western Jumping Mice (Zapus princeps), and 2 Boreal Redback Voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). As expected, different habitats support different species. Therefore, there was a significant variation in the type of animals sampled at the various sites. Our survey of the prevalence of plague and tularemia in small mammals at GTNP yielded negative results. Although this might be attributable to a relatively small sample size, we cannot, at this point, rule out more complex explanations. We believe that a follow-up survey would gain a more comprehensive picture of the zoonotic risk at GTNP and for possible illucidation of the dynamics of these diseases.

Keywords: animal, mammal, disease, plague, tularemia, Grand Teton National Park, habitat, deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, mouse, Muridae, Cricetidae, vole, meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, squirrel, Uinta ground squirrel, Citellus armatus, ground squirrel, Sciuridae, chipmunk, least chipmunk, Tamias minimus, jumping mouse, Zapus princeps, redback vole, Clethrionomys gapper