Francisella tularensis infection in captive, wild caught prairie dogs

An adult, wild caught prairie dog was found dehydrated and ataxic, with severe diarrhea. Gross necropsy lesions consisted of scattered pinpoint white foci throughout the liver and spleen. A massive, purulent bronchopneumonia was found also. Direct fluorescent antibody tests and culture of spleen and liver samples confirmed a diagnosis of tularemia.