DYNAMICS OF PLAGUE EPIZOOTICS IN PRAIRIE DOG COMMUNITIES

• Sponsoring Institution: Other Cooperating Institutions
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0203063
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2004
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2006
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
FLAGSTAFF,AZ 86011

Performing Department
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY

Non Technical Summary
Concervation of prairie dogs is essential to recovery of the critically endangered black-footed ferret, and for maintenance of structural diversity and community structure in prairie dog colonies. This project will study the prevalence of Yersinia and Bartonella, and host-changing behaviors of fleas, in relation to rodent population changes, climate and habitat.

Animal Health Component

10%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

90%

Applied

10%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
133	0790	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation;

Subject Of Investigation
0790 - Rangelands, other;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

prairie dogs

yersinia

bartonella

plague

bacterial diseases (animals)

epizootic diseases

wildlife

wildlife ecology

rodents

epidemiology

disease transmission

arizona

rangelands

siphonaptera

disease prevalence

insect vectors

climate

wildlife habitats

wildlife population

ferrets

endangered species

Goals / Objectives
This project will study the prevalence of Yersinia and Bartonella, and host-changing behaviors of fleas, in relation to rodent population changes, climate and habitat.

Project Methods
We will use field date to parameterize two models of disease dynamics in Gunnison's prairie dogs. Although plague is the primary disease of interest, we will also study Bartonella as a surrogate for plague because it uses the same obligate flea vectors, but is less pathogenic and more widespread among all rodents species than plague.

Progress 04/01/04 to 08/31/06

Outputs
We trapped prairie dogs and other rodents at prairie dog colonies in New Mexico during Spring-Fall 2005. We obtained fleas and tissue samples from all rodents, identified fleas, and tested fleas and rodents for evidence of infection by plague Yersinia pestis. These results provide a detailed picture of potential vectors and plague occurrence in vectors and hosts in southwestern grasslands.

Impacts
Over 3 field seasons, our data should document dynamics of plagues among rodent hosts and insect vectors. By trapping and sampling in multiple dogtowns over several years, we can determine how dynamics vary with annual changes in precipitation, with population sizes of rodents and fleas, and changes in host-specificity of fleas.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
We trapped prairie dogs and other rodents at prairie dog colonies in New Mexico during Spring-Fall 2005. We obtained fleas and tissue samples from all rodents, identified fleas, and tested fleas and rodents for evidence of infection by plague Yersinia pestis. These results provide a detailed picture of potential vectors and plague occurrence in vectors and hosts in southwestern grasslands.

Impacts
Over 3 field seasons, our data should document dynamics of plagues among rodent hosts and insect vectors. By trapping and sampling in multiple dogtowns over several years, we can determine how dynamics vary with annual changes in precipitation, with population sizes of rodents and fleas, and changes in host-specificity of fleas.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
We trapped prairie dogs and other rodents at prairie dog colonies in New Mexico during Spring-Fall 2004. Because of low prairie dog density in some locations, some field sites will be shifted in 2005. We obtained fleas and tissue samples from all rodents, identified fleas, and tested fleas and rodents for evidence of infection by plague Yersinia pestis. These results provide a detailed picture of potential vectors and plague occurrence in vectors and hosts in southwestern grasslands. Impact Over 3 field seasons, our data should document dynamics of plagues among rodent hosts and insect vectors. By trapping and sampling in multiple dogtowns over several years, we can determine how dynamics vary with annual changes in precipitation, with population sizes of rodents and fleas, and changes in host-specificity of fleas. Publications: none

Impacts
These results provide a detailed picture of potential vectors and plague occurrence in vectors and hosts in southwestern grasslands.

Publications

• No publications reported this period