Outbreak of tularaemia in central Norway, January to March 2011.

From January to March 2011, 39 cases of tularaemia were diagnosed in three counties in central Norway: 21 cases of oropharyngeal type, 10 cases of glandular/ulceroglandular type, two of respiratory and two of typhoid type. Three cases were asymptomatic and clinical information was unavailable for one case. The mean age was 40.3 years (range 2-89 years). Thirty-four reported use of drinking water from private wells. An increased rodent (lemming) population and snow melting may have led to contamination of the wells with infected rodents or rodent excreta.

Rabies in an Arctic fox on the Svalbard archipelago, Norway, January 2011.

We report a case of rabies in an Arctic fox. In January 2011 a fox attacked dogs belonging to a meteorological station in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway. Rabies virus was detected in the fox's brain post-mortem. The dogs had been vaccinated against rabies and their antibody levels were protective. Post-exposure prophylaxis was administered to staff at the station. Rabies vaccination is recommended for inhabitants and visitors to the Arctic who may be in contact with wild animals.

Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., verocytotoxic Escherichia coli, and antibiotic resistance in indicator organisms in wild cervids.

Faecal samples were collected, as part of the National Health Surveillance Program for Cervids (HOP) in Norway, from wild red deer, roe deer, moose and reindeer during ordinary hunting seasons from 2001 to 2003. Samples from a total of 618 animals were examined for verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC); 611 animals for Salmonella and 324 animals for Campylobacter. A total of 50 samples were cultivated from each cervid species in order to isolate the indicator bacterial species E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis / E. faecium for antibiotic resistance pattern studies. Salmonella and the potentially human pathogenic verocytotoxic E. coli were not isolated, while Campylobacter jejuni jejuni was found in one roe deer sample only. Antibiotic resistance was found in 13 (7.3%) of the 179 E. coli isolates tested, eight of these being resistant against one type of antibiotic only. The proportion of resistant E. coli isolates was higher in wild reindeer (24%) than in the other cervids (2.2%). E. faecalis or E. faecium were isolated from 19 of the samples, none of these being reindeer. All the strains isolated were resistant against one (84%) or more (16%) antibiotics. A total of 14 E. faecalis-strains were resistant to virginiamycin only. The results indicate that the cervid species studied do not constitute an important infectious reservoir for either the human pathogens or the antibiotic resistant microorganisms included in the study.

Osteoporosis, bone mineralization, and status of selected trace elements in two populations of moose calves in Norway.

This study was conducted to clarify the etiology of a high frequency of bone fractures and osteoporosis in the moose (Alces alces) population in southern Norway. Liver samples, both metacarpi, and carcass data were collected from 21 and 22 moose calves shot in 1994 in Birkenes (southern Norway), and Naerøy (central Norway), respectively. The liver samples were analyzed for copper, manganese, zinc, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and selenium. Bone samples were subject to histologic, radiologic, and chemical examinations. Three of the calves from Birkenes and one calf from Naerøy showed histologic and radiologic evidence of generalized osteoporosis consistent with osteoporosis due to starvation. The calves with osteoporosis had the lowest carcass weights and radio-opacities recorded. There was a positive correlation between carcass weight and bone radio-opacity. Density, ash content, phosphorus, and calcium contents and phosphorous/calcium ratio in bone samples, as well as hepatic trace element status, were within the normal range for all calves in both populations. Two of the osteoporotic calves, were reported to have been orphaned. Our results indicate that the high frequency of bone fractures reported in moose in southern Norway is not associated with regional differences in trace element status or bone mineral balance. We propose that the occurrence of osteoporosis in moose calves in Birkenes may have resulted from inadequate nutrition following general overcrowding and high pressure on feed resources in the southernmost part of Norway.

Toxic nephrosis in moose in Norway.

During the summers 1995/96, toxic nephrosis was diagnosed in nine free-living moose (Alces alces) from Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. Histopathological kidney lesions included tubular degeneration and necrosis, tubular regeneration, and interstitial fibrosis. The disease was probably caused by ingestion of the toxic plants, bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) or oak (Quercus spp.).

Chromosome 14 contains determinants that regulate susceptibility to Theiler's virus-induced demyelination in the mouse.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus causes a chronic demyelinating disease in susceptible strains of mice that is similar to human multiple sclerosis. Several nonmajor histocompatibility complex-linked genes have been implicated as determinants of susceptibility or resistance to either demyelination or virus persistence. In this study, we used linkage analysis of major histocompatibility complex identical H-2d (DBA/2J x B10.D2) F2 intercross mice to identify loci associated with susceptibility to virus-induced demyelinating disease. In a 20-cM region on chromosome 14, we identified four markers, D14Mit54, D14Mit60, D14Mit61, and D14Mit90 that are significantly associated with demyelination. Because two peaks were identified, one near D14Mit54 and one near D14Mit90, it is possible that two loci in this region are involved in controlling demyelination.

Fluoride exposure in cervids inhabiting areas adjacent to aluminum smelters in Norway. I. Residue levels.

Mandibular fluorine concentrations were determined in 1,425 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 240 moose (Alces alces), and 424 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) collected in Norway from 1990 to 1993 in seven municipalities in which aluminum smelters are located, in eight neighboring municipalities, and in eight reference areas representing background levels. Background fluorine concentration was significantly correlated with age in all three species. Roe deer had the highest mean background fluorine level in each age group, followed by red deer. Due to differences in fluoride exposure, large variations in bone fluorine residues were evident between locations. In Ardal, the district most severely exposed to fluoride contamination, nine of ten cervids had fluorine concentrations exceeding background levels. The proportions of red deer with fluorine residues exceeding background levels also were high in neighboring municipalities to Ardal. We propose that roe deer are a better biomonitor of local fluoride exposure than red deer and moose, due to their more sedentary behavior.

Fluoride exposure in cervids inhabiting areas adjacent to aluminum smelters in Norway. II. Fluorosis.

Mandibles from 1104 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 147 moose (Alces alces), and 453 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), collected between 1990 and 1993 in the vicinity of seven Norwegian aluminum smelters, were examined for dental fluorotic and osteofluorotic lesions. The metacarpal or metatarsal bones from 214 of these cervids also were evaluated. Dental fluorotic lesions occurred in all three cervid species. Prevalence of dental fluorosis was generally low at the various locations, with the exception of Ardal, where 15% of the cervids examined were affected. Only sporadic cases of severe dental fluorotic lesions were diagnosed. All red deer yearlings (1.5 yr) with mandibular fluorine (F) levels exceeding 2,000 ppm F, had dental fluorosis. However, the lowest skeletal fluorine level found in a fluorotic animal of this age was 1,355 ppm F. Gross osteofluorosis occurred in only three cervids, all with mandibular fluorine residues > 8,000 ppm F. Hence, generalized fluorosis was not a prominent feature in the material studied.

Fluoride exposure and selected characteristics of eggs and bones of the herring gull (Larus argentatus) and the common gull (Larus canus).

Fluorine concentrations were determined in the shell of 285 herring gull eggs (Larus argentatus) and 120 common gull eggs (Larus canus), collected May 1991 to 1993, from breeding colonies exposed to emissions from two Norwegian primary aluminum smelters located at Karmøy and Sunndal, and from unexposed reference localities in Eigersund, Sola, and Stavanger. Volume-index, shell thickness, thickness-index, and fertilization of the eggs also were monitored. In both species, the shell fluorine concentration was significantly increased in eggs collected at sites exposed to fluoride emissions. No effects on other egg characteristics were observed. In both exposed and unexposed sites, the last-laid egg in a clutch, normally containing three eggs, had the highest shell fluorine residue. Fluorine levels also were analyzed in femurs from 42 herring gulls, collected from Karmøy and Sola in May 1993. The relationship between sex and fluoride accumulation, and the relations between fluorine concentration in femurs of laying herring gulls and in the shell of their eggs, were evaluated. Bone morphology also was studied. Bone fluorine concentrations were raised significantly in emission-exposed female birds. Moreover, females from the exposed site had significantly higher fluorine residues than males. There was a positive correlation between fluorine levels in femurs of individual laying birds and those in the shells of their eggs. No changes in bone morphology due to fluoride exposure was found.