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tularemia
(too″lә-re´me-ә)
[Tulare County, California, where it was first described in 1911]
an infectious, plaguelike, zoonotic disease caused by infection with the bacillus Francisella tularensis, which has as its natural reservoir numerous species of rabbits, squirrels, and muskrats. It is transmitted to humans and
other animals by the bites of deer flies, fleas, and ticks; by contact with contaminated animals or their products; by direct inhalation of the bacillus; and by ingestion of contaminated
food or water. In addition to a marked reaction at the portal of entry of the bacillus, which has led to the names given to
different types of tularemia, most cases are characterized by abrupt onset of fever, chills, weakness, headache, backache,
and malaise. Called also deer fly or rabbit fever and Francis disease.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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