Potential wildlife sources of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis for farmed deer (Cervus elaphus)

Authors: Henderson T, Mackintosh CG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 32, Issue 12, pp 208-210, Dec 1984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Deer, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Zoonosis, Infectious disease, Disease/defect, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: During 1982 and 1983 15 serotype I, 6 serotype II, 1 serotype III and 3 untyped strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis were isolated from 675 apparently normal small mammals and birds from the Invermay farm and nearby rubbish tip with the following prevalence rates: feral cats 27.8%, Norway rats 8.6%, mice 5.5%, hares 3.8% rabbits 1.9% ducks 5.3%, sparrows 2.3%, seagulls 2.3% and starlings 1.7%. For rabbits a significantly higher prevalence of infection was found in the autumn/winter period (4.8%) than fhe spring/summer period (0%). Insufficient numbers of other mammals were obtained to demonstrate any seasonal difference in prevalence. All bird isolations were obtained between March and July (8/158) compared with none from August to October (0/144). It appears that a number of free-living species of small mammal and birds may be reservoir hosts for Y. pseudotuberculosis and potential sources of infection for red deer on the Invermay farm.

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