Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2018
Pathology of natural Francisella tularensis subsp holarctica infection in two yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis)
Hestvik, Gete; Uhlhorn, Henrik; Mattsson, Roland; Westergren, Eva; Sodersten, Fredrik; Akerstrom, Sara; Gavier-Widen, DoloresAbstract
Background: Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It has a wide host range, which includes mammals, birds and invertebrates. F. tularensis has often been isolated from various species of small rodents, but the pathology in naturally infected wild rodent species has rarely been reported.Case presentation: Herein, we describe the pathology of tularemia in two naturally infected wild yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis). To visualize F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were applied on tissue sections. Real time polymerase chain reaction detected the bacterium in samples from liver and spleen in both mice. The only finding at necropsy was splenomegaly in one of the mice. Histological examination revealed necrotic foci in the liver associated with mild inflammation in both mice. Immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence showed bacteria disseminated in many organs, in the cytoplasm of macrophages, and intravascularly.Conclusions: The two yellow-necked mice died of an acute disease caused by tularemic infection disseminated to many organs. Further investigations of naturally infected small rodents are important to better understand the variability in pathological presentation caused by infection by F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, as well to elucidate the importance of small rodents as transmitters and/or reservoirs.Keywords
Apodemus flavicollis; Francisella; Immunohistochemistry; Pathology; Tularemia; Small rodent; Yellow-necked mousePublished in
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica2018, volume: 60, article number: 26
Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD
Authors' information
Hestvik, Gete
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health
Hestvik, Gete
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Uhlhorn, Henrik
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Mattsson, Roland
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Westergren, Eva
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health
Åkerström, Sara
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Gavier-Widen, Dolores (Gavier Widén, Dolores)
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Gavier-Widen, Dolores (Gavier Widén, Dolores)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health
UKÄ Subject classification
Clinical Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0381-9
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95259