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Plague
Diagnostic Serology, in conjunction with Zoonosis, screens blood samples from wild animals throughout Texas for the presence of antibodies to Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague. Animals tested include the grey and red fox, bobcat, striped skunk, coyote, feral hog, raccoon, badger, feral dog, opossum, ringtail, audad (Barbary sheep), and cougar.
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For the year 1998, 2,757 animal blood specimens were screened. Four specimens, all from coyotes, tested seropositive; 1 in Borden Co., 1 in Gray Co., and 2 in Potter Co. So far in 1999, two coyotes in Potter County have been found to be reactive for plague antibody.
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Arthropod-Borne Diseases
So far this year, Diagnostic Serology has tested 203 serum specimens for Lyme disease and 286 serum specimens for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and murine typhus.
There have been 22 confirmed cases of Lyme disease, 6 confirmed RMSF, and 9 confirmed typhus cases.
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Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the US. A Lyme-like illness found in Texas may be caused by a similar spirochete, Borrelia lonestari.
Rickettsia rickettsii causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a potentially life threatening disease unless diagnosed early and treated with appropriate antibiotics. The tick vector for this organism includes the dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis and also possibly Amblyomma americanum, the Lone Star tick.
causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a potentially life threatening disease unless diagnosed early and treated with appropriate antibiotics. The tick vector for this organism includes the dog tick, and also possibly , the Lone Star tick.Murine or endemic typhus caused by Rickettsia typhi is not uncommon in the southern Gulf sections of the state. Historically, the organism has been transmitted by the rat flea but now it appears the predominant vector is the cat flea. Domesticated and feral cats as well as oppossum serve as the reservoirs for the organism.
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Measles and Rubella
As of 9/22/99, 6 confirmed cases of measles and 6 confirmed cases of rubella have been reported. The Diagnostic Serology Section tests for both IgM and IgG antibodies to the measles and rubella viruses. Diagnostic Serology works closely with Immunizations to aid in the diagnosis of these vaccine preventable diseases.
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Mumps
As of 9/22/99, 25 confirmed cases of mumps have been reported. Diagnostic Serology tests for both IgM and IgG antibodies to the mumps virus.
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Dengue
Diagnostic Serology played a vital role in investigating the dengue outbreak in south Texas. Diagnostic Serology is currently receiving 10-20 specimens per week from south Texas. Positive dengue IgM specimens have been obtained from Webb and Hidalgo counties. The dengue virus is transmitted by the mosquito, Aedes aegypti.
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Hantavirus
In 1999, Diagnostic Serology confirmed one case of human hanta virus infection. The hantavirus primarily infects rodents. Humans acquire the disease by inhaling dried rodent excreta containing the virus. Severe infections known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) can have mortality rates as high as 50%. The disease is typically seen in the western part of the United States.
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