Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU

Description

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to collaborate in determining the future impact of climate on plague pathways and disease dynamics. Periodic outbreaks of sylvatic plague, a zoonotic flea-borne disease, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has had near catastrophic impacts on some mammal populations, including prairie dogs and the endangered black-footed ferret. Although human plague cases in the U.S. are relatively infrequent, the disease can be fatal, and its occurrence generates considerable public concern and media attention. Sylvatic plague is relevant to the Department of Defense (DOD) as prairie dogs, ground squirrels and other susceptible rodents are present on military installations in several western states, and the occurrence of plague has been known to curtail military exercises in the past. Furthermore, plague still occurs in many parts of the world where troops might be deployed, and Y. pestis has the potential to be developed as a bioweapon. Arthropod-borne diseases, like plague, are thought to be particularly sensitive to local climate conditions, and expected changes in temperature and humidity over the next several decades will likely increase the eastern and northern expansion of plague outbreaks in wildlife. Through a combination of field and laboratory work, along with data-driven modeling, we propose to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on plague exposure pathways in prairie dogs, ground squirrels and other rodents and provide guidance to DOD partners regarding the potential for future outbreaks. As part of this project, will also determine if the use of an orally-delivered sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) can be used as a management tool to prevent outbreaks.

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