Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S. states except Hawaii.
Can humans get rabbit fever?
Commonly called “rabbit fever” or “deer fly fever,” people get tularemia from exposure to deer flies and ticks that have F. tularensis infections. You can also get it from contact with infected animals (generally rabbits, hares and rodents) or food and water sources contaminated with the bacteria.
Why do you get rabbit fever?
Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is an illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It is spread through contact with animals that have the bacteria—usually through contact with wild animals, including hares, rabbits, squirrels, muskrats, beavers, and deer.
How is rabbit fever diagnosed?
Because it’s rare and because it shares symptoms with other diseases, tularemia may be difficult to diagnose. If you’ve participated in any activities that increase your risk, such as hunting rabbit, let your doctor know. Tularemia can usually be diagnosed through blood tests.
How long does it take to get rabbit fever?
Symptoms generally appear 3 to 5 days after exposure, but can range from 1 to 21 days.
How do I know if I have tularemia?
Possible symptoms include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, diarrhea or pneumonia. If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness.
How do you prevent rabbit fever?
Wear an insect repellent with DEET, IR3535 or lemon eucalyptus oil to repel ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes. Wear shoes in areas where rabbits have died because the bacteria can live for several months. Wear a dust mask when mowing or blowing vegetation in areas where rabbits have died.
What is the home remedy for rabbit fever?
While you seek treatment, try to keep your rabbit hydrated and warm. A syringe with water or soft foods (applesauce or baby food) can assist. Depending on the condition, your vet may prescribe prescription medication to help your rabbit’s condition.
Is tularemia curable in humans?
Tularemia can be life-threatening, but most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Steps to prevent tularemia include: Using insect repellent. Wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals.
What are the chances of getting tularemia?
The disease is rare in the United States with approximately 100-200 new cases reported each year. Some researchers believe that many cases of tularemia often go unreported or misdiagnosed, making it difficult to determine the true frequency of this disease in the general population.
What diseases can humans get from rabbits?
Zoonotic diseases associated with rabbits include pasteurellosis, ringworm, mycobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and external parasites. Rabbits can transmit bacteria through bites and scratches.
What is the mortality rate of tularemia?
Without treatment, 30 to 60 percent of people with this form of the disease may die. With treatment, the current death rate for tularemia in the U.S. is less than two percent.
How long does it take to get tularemia?
Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but can take as long as 14 days.
Can humans get Mycobacteriosis?
Type IV of mycobacteriosis is very uncommon, but infection can be found in humans with lung disease [63,69,70].
Do all rabbits have tularemia?
Natural distribution. Tularemia most often affects lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) and rodents; however, it has been reported as affecting more than 100 species of wild and domestic mammals. In North America, infections are most common in snowshoe hares, black-tailed jackrabbits, and eastern and desert cottontails.
What does tularemia look like?
Oculoglandular tularemia is marked by redness and pain in the eyes (conjunctivitis), often accompanied by a discharge. Swollen glands are also frequently seen. Finally, pneumonic tularemia causes a dry cough, respiratory difficulty and chest pain.
Who is at greatest risk of contracting tularemia?
Those whose occupations put them into frequent contact with these animals, particularly wild animals, are at the greatest risk for contracting tularemia. How is tularemia spread? There are two common ways that humans can contract tularemia: From the bite of an infected tick, deerfly, or mosquito.
Is tularemia the plague?
During research on the plague in endemic areas, tularemia was discovered and initially identified as a kind of plague called “pseudo-plague .” In 1911, the etiologic agent, initially named Bacterium tularense , was isolated from squirrels in the city of Tulare, California (USA).
What is leptospirosis disease?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases. Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all.
Can tularemia be killed by cooking?
Heat kills F. tularensis, so cook meat to the right temperature — a minimum of 160 F (71.1 C) for ground meat and game meat — to make it safe to eat. Poultry should be cooked to 165 F (73.8 C).
What are white spots on the liver?
These lesions, also known as “milk spots”, are the result of the migration of Ascaris suum larvae that, due to the irritation they cause give place to chronic interstitial hepatitis outbreaks.