Oral vaccination against Yersinia pestis could provide a feasible approach for controlling plague in prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) for conservation and public health purposes. Biomarkers are useful in wildlife vaccination programs to demonstrate exposure to vaccine baits. Rhodamine B (RB) was tested as a potential biomarker for oral plague vaccination because it allows nonlethal sampling of animals through hair, blood, and feces. We found that RB is an appropriate marker for bait uptake studies of C. ludovicianus) when used at concentrations <0.5% of bait mass dosed to deliver >10 mg RB per kg target animal mass. Whiskers with follicles provided the best sample for RB detection.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2011 |
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Title | Use of Rhodamine B as a biomarker for oral plague vaccination of prairie dogs |
DOI | 10.7589/0090-3558-47.3.765 |
Authors | Julia Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, Tonie E. Rocke |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
Index ID | 70005592 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | National Wildlife Health Center |