# Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica in Stranded Beluga Whales, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA

## TL;DR

Beluga whales in Alaska died from tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis, highlighting concerns for marine mammal health and biosecurity.

## Contribution

First report of Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in beluga whales using nanopore metagenomics and molecular confirmation.

## Key findings

- Francisella tularensis was detected in stranded beluga whales using nanopore metagenomics.
- The subspecies was identified as holarctica through multilocus sequence typing.
- The findings suggest implications for marine mammal health and biosecurity in the North Pacific.

## Abstract

We report fatal tularemia in stranded beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA. Francisella tularensis was detected by nanopore metagenomics, confirmed by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, and characterized as F. tularensis subspecies holarctica by multilocus sequence typing. Our findings should be considered when assessing biosecurity and marine mammal health in the North Pacific.