A survey of tularemia in wild mammals from fennoscandia.

A total of 2696 wild mammals from Fennoscandia were surveyed for tularemia. Francisella tularensis was not detected in livers/spleens or kidneys from any of the 1992 small rodents captured in Norway and Denmark as judged by one or more of the following methods: cultivation, immunofluorescence microscopy and inoculation in laboratory mice. Serologic examination of 704 wild mammals from Norway, Finland and Sweden demonstrated 11 cases of antibody titers. Agglutinating antibodies were demonstrated in 2 of 565 small rodents (titer 1:160), 2 of 26 wild rabbits (titer 1:80) and in 7 of 60 red deer (titer 1:20-1:40). The titers in red deer were low and could be due to cross reactions. No agglutinating antibodies were demonstrated in the sera of 53 domestic reindeer.