Determination of natural foci of tularemia in the Tuva ASSR

: Eleven strains of tularemia causative agents were isolated in 1974 in bacteriological study of ixodes ticks Dermacentor nuttalli (13088 in all) by biotests on albino mice. Tularemia was confirmed retrospectively in two humans who contracted the disease from ondatra cadavers. Skin allergic test with tularin was used to examine 1733 residents of seven populated localities; a positive result was obtained in 2 persons. Finally, in examination of 240 sera of cattle agglutination reaction proved to be positive in 6 cases in titres of from 1:20 to 1:80. Thus, natural nidality of tularemia in Tuva was established for the first time.