Rabies and canine distemper in an arctic fox population in Alaska

Two oil field workers were attacked by a rabid arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in the Prudhoe Bay oil field (Alaska, USA) prompting officials to reduce th e local fox population. Ninety-nine foxes were killed during winter 1994. W e tested foxes for prevalence of rabies and canine distemper. Exposure to r abies was detected in five of 99 foxes. Of the five, only one fox had rabie s virus in neural tissue as determined by the direct fluorescent antibody t est. The other four foxes had been exposed to rabies, but had apparently pr oduced antibodies and did not have an active infection. No evidence of cani ne distemper was detected as determined by the absence of distemper antibod ies in serum and distemper virus in neural tissue.