Survey for rabies, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and tularemia in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from three public use areas in northwestern Arkansas.

During a skunk eradication program in late August, 1979, 53 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were removed from three public use areas on Beaver Lake, Benton and Carroll counties in northwestern Arkansas. None of the 53 animals were positive for rabies (fluorescent antibody technique) and only one of 45 (2.2%) was positive for rabies antibodies. Twenty-one of 45 animals (46.6%) tested were positive for leptospirosis; 10 of 45 (22.2%) were positive for toxoplasmosis; and none were positive for tularemia. High populations of striped skunks in public use areas could be a potentially important reservoir for several diseases affecting both humans and other animals.