Tularemia in Alaska, 1938 - 2010

Hansen, Cristina M.; Vogler, Amy J.; Keim, Paul; Wagner, David M.; Hueffer, Karsten

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-53-61

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A rodent–mosquito cycle has been described ( F. tularensis sub-species holarctica ) in Scandinavia and Russia (55). In Alaska, both F. tularensis sub-species holarctica and the more virulent subspecies tularensis have been isolated from patients (56). Humans are infected via the bite of an arthropod (commonly ticks in North America and mosquitos in northern Europe) or by inoculation through the skin, conjunctiva oropharyngeal mucosa via contaminated water, blood, and tissue while handling infected carcasses.…”

Section: Tularemiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic infections in Alaska: disease prevalence, potential impact of climate change and recommended actions for earlier disease detection, research, prevention and control

Hueffer

Parkinson²,

Gerlach

et al. 2013

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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Over the last 60 years, Alaska's mean annual temperature has increased by 1.6°C, more than twice the rate of the rest of the United States. As a result, climate change impacts are more pronounced here than in other regions of the United States. Warmer temperatures may allow some infected host animals to survive winters in larger numbers, increase their population and expand their range of habitation thus increasing the opportunity for transmission of infection to humans. Subsistence hunting and gathering activities may place rural residents of Alaska at a greater risk of acquiring zoonotic infections than urban residents. Known zoonotic diseases that occur in Alaska include brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, giardiasis/cryptosporidiosis, echinococcosis, rabies and tularemia. Actions for early disease detection, research and prevention and control include: (1) determining baseline levels of infection and disease in both humans and host animals; (2) conducting more research to understand the ecology of infection in the Arctic environment; (3) improving active and passive surveillance systems for infection and disease in humans and animals; (4) improving outreach, education and communication on climate-sensitive infectious diseases at the community, health and animal care provider levels; and (5) improving coordination between public health and animal health agencies, universities and tribal health organisations.

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Section: Tularemiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic infections in Alaska: disease prevalence, potential impact of climate change and recommended actions for earlier disease detection, research, prevention and control

Hueffer

Parkinson²,

Gerlach

et al. 2013

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

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“…In particular, tularemia cases in Europe are mainly concentrated in Germany, Sweden, British Columbia, Norway and France 4,20,21 . Other cases are reported in Japan, Alaska, Sudan and Turkey [22][23][24] . Currently, outbreaks caused by F. tularensis are generally rare and sporadic as the spread and incidence of the disease has been steadily decreasing 25 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organs of BALB/c mice can be injured in course of tularemia

Pavliš¹,

Kusakova²,

Novotný³

et al. 2014

BIOMED PAP

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Background. Francisella tularensis is a biological agent exploitable for bioterrorism and biological warfare purposes due to serious pathogenic progression and easy dissemination. Despite intensive research in the past, some adverse consequences remain unclear. One consequence of this pathogen is oxidative stress. Aims. The aim of this study was to undertake ex vivo assays for monitoring the disease in mice and increase our knowledge of the oxidative stress induced by tularemia. Methods. The mouse BALB/c model was chosen and the animals were infected by a dose 10 4 CFU of F. tularensis. After five days, the animals were euthanized. Blood immediately processed in plasma, spleen and liver were sampled from the cadavers. Oxidative stress markers, cytokines and histopathological were undertaken.Results. There was a significant link between oxidative stress and tularemia. Particularly elevated levels of malondialdehyde and decreased levels of low molecular weight antioxidants were found in the liver and spleen of tularemia-infected animals. The histopathological findings correlated well with the oxidative stress markers. The liver and spleen were proven to be significantly at risk from the disease and an association between stress and neutrophils in the affected organs was found. The histopathology excluded risk to other organs such as the kidney and or heart. Conclusions. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in tularemia infection in mice and this was confirmed by the histology.

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“…At a later stage, an inflammatory condition develops resulting in local necrosis with infiltration. In the final stage, the secretory changes develop, which takes form of caseating granulomas characteristic of tuberculosis and sarcoidosis (Hansen et al 2011, Moniuszko et al 2010, Osiak et al 2006). The organism fights the microorganism by creating multiple defense mechanisms.…”

Section: Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An etiological agent of this zoonosis is bacterium Francisella tularensis, which was isolated for the first time during an epidemic of tularemia in squirrels in Tulare County, California in 1912 (Hansen et al 2011, Oyston et al 2008). The name of the bacterium comes from the name of the researcher, Dr. Edward Francis, dealing with these pathogens (McCoy and Chapin 1912).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%