What is tularemia and what How does tularemia affect Other signs include skin rash, sore causes it? my animal? throat, or swelling of the eyes. If the Tularemia (tool-ah-rEEm-EE-ah), Some animals do not show signs of lungs become infected, coughing, also called rabbit fever, is a disease disease. Illness occurs 1 to 10 days after chest pain, shortness of breath, and caused by the bacteria Francisella exposure to the bacteria. Animals may severe pneumonia can occur. tularensis (fran-sis-SELL-ah too-la- have a fever, look tired, be depressed Who should I contact, if I REN-sis). Tularemia occurs naturally and refuse to eat. Some will have a suspect tularemia? worldwide. It is also listed as a potential cough, stagger from weakness, vomit In Animals – biological weapon. Disease can range or develop diarrhea. Rabbits and Contact your veterinarian. from mild to severe, flu-like illness in rodents behave strangely, huddle In Humans – humans and many animals. together and have a rough looking Contact your physician. coat. Sudden death can occur. What animals get tularemia? How can I protect my animal Can I get tularemia? Rabbits and other wild rodents from tularemia? are the primary species affected. Yes. Humans can get tularemia by Tularemia is difficult to prevent Tularemia can also affect beaver and direct contact with infected animals, since it can be in the environment muskrats. Livestock and pets including inhaling (aerosol) the bacteria in or be spread by insects. Prevention pigs, horses, dogs, cats, fish and birds contaminated environments, eating measures include keeping pets can also get tularemia. Sheep are (oral) contaminated food or water or indoors and away from wildlife. Do especially susceptible. Cattle rarely from the bite of an infected insect not feed animals raw meat, especially get the disease. (vector). Signs usually appear 3 to 5 that from wild animals. Control ticks days after exposure. How can my animal get and biting flies. Disease varies depending route of tularemia? exposure to the bacteria. Initially flu- How can I protect myself Tularemia bacteria can be found in like signs, such as fever, chills, nausea, from tularemia? the organs or body fluids of infected headache and joint pain occur. Glands Avoid contact with wildlife, animals, which contaminates the (or lymph nodes) may become especially sick animals. Do not handle environment. The bacteria can live swollen and painful and may break dead wildlife without gloves. Wash for long periods of time (weeks to open and drain pus. your hands after touching any animal months) in soil, vegetation and water and especially before you eat. When and serve as a source of infection for outside, wear insect repellents that other animals or humans. contain DEET. Cook all meats and Animals get tularemia by foods thoroughly. Wash fruits and ingesting (oral) contaminated food vegetables before eating them. Only (raw meat from infected animals) drink water from a safe source. or drinking contaminated water. They can also inhale (aerosol) the Tularemia For More Information bacteria, have direct contact with it is a bacterial disease in contaminated environments (entry spread by CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Tularemia infected animals, at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ through the mucous membranes or DiseaseInfo/ breaks/cuts in the skin), or be bitten by aerosol, ingestion, CDC website. Tularemia at http://www.cdc. infected biting flies or ticks vector( ). ticks, and deer flies. gov/tularemia/
Photos show a rabbit (reservoir) and finger lesion due to tularemia. Photos from wikimedia.org and Oklahoma State Dept of Health.
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