EPIDEMICS AMONG SLEDGE DOGS IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC AND THEIR RELATION TO DISEASE IN THE ARCTIC FOX

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Research
• Main Author: Elton, Charles
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1931
• Subjects: Arctic Fox; Arctic; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjr31-106; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjr31-106

An enquiry was made by the Hudson's Bay Company into the origin and spread of a serious disease resembling epidemic encephalitis of silver foxes which periodically destroys large numbers of sledge dogs in the arctic and subarctic regions of Canada. A similar disease occurs in the arctic fox, and is associated with an important four-year cycle in the numbers of the fox, which may thus form a permanent reservoir for the disease organism, or organisms. General forecasting of this fox cycle is possible, and is dependent on knowledge of the lemming cycle in the arctic, and associated climatic phenomena.