What is Rabbit Fever?
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.
How was tularemia named?
The disease is named after Tulare County, California, where the disease was discovered in 1911. A number of other animals, such as rabbits, may also be infected.
What is Typhoidal tularemia?
Typhoidal tularemia refers to a febrile illness caused by Francisella tularensis that is not associated with prominent lymphadenopathy and does not fit into any of the other major forms (ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, pharyngeal, pnemonic).
How is Francisella tularensis identified?
Detection of F. tularensis in a clinical specimen by direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA), immunohistochemical staining, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.
Is salmonella a viral infection?
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through feces. Humans become infected most frequently through contaminated water or food.
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).
Can humans get tularemia?
Tularemia is a disease that can infect animals and people. Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. People can become infected in several ways, including: Tick and deer fly bites.
Can you eat a rabbit with tularemia?
Can I eat the meat? Normal cooking temperatures kill bacteria in the meat. Therefore, it is safe to eat. However, human exposure typically occurs while gutting a hare.
What is the best treatment for tularemia?
Antibiotics used to treat tularemia include streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. Treatment usually lasts 10 to 21 days depending on the stage of illness and the medication used. Although symptoms may last for several weeks, most patients completely recover.
Can tularemia go away on its own?
Fever may be high, and may go away for a short time only to return. Untreated, the fever usually lasts about four weeks. Other symptoms depend on the type of tularemia. In ulceroglandular tularemia, a red nodule appears at the site of inoculation and eventually forms an open sore associated with swollen lymph nodes.