First Evidence of Plague (Yersinia pestis) in Nebraska is Found in Panhandle Predators

Authors

• Dallas Virchow, University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center
• Wayne L. Kramer, Nebraska State Health Department
• Charles S. Brown, United States Department of Agriculture
• Scott E. Hygnstrom, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Alan M. Barnes, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Date of this Version

1992

Document Type

Article

Citation

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences (1992) XIX: 49-55

Comments

Copyright © 1992, Virchow, Kramer, Brown, Hygnstrom, and Barnes. Used by permission

Abstract

In September, 1992, plague (Yersinia pestis) antibody was found in the blood of a coyote (Canis latrans) (1:128 titer) and a badger (Taxidea taxus) (1:2048 titer) taken near a suspect black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town in Sioux County. However, a 1989-1991 survey of 96 coyotes taken from nine Nebraska Panhandle counties demonstrated no plague antibodies. Passive hemagglutination tests of Nobuto blood-sampling paper proved useful to quickly survey a predator population that is distributed across a broad geographic area.