Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Ask Our Experts

Get answers to your specific medical questions from UM Medical Center experts.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis via e-mail.

 

Related Content

Division of Infectious Diseases

Flu Prevention Podcast

Our Doctors

Tularemia

Definition:

Tularemia is an infection common in wild rodents. It is caused by the organism Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is transmitted to humans by contact with infected animal tissues or by ticks , biting flies, and mosquitoes.

Alternative Names:

Deerfly fever; Rabbit fever; Pahvant Valley plague; Ohara disease; Yatobyo (Japan); Lemming fever

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Humans can contract tularemia in the following ways:

Endemic areas (areas where the disorder occurs most commonly) include North America and parts of Europe and Asia. The illness may continue for several weeks after symptoms begin.

Some people may develop an atypical pneumonia after infection. Risk factors include recent exposure to rabbits or a recent tick bite . The disease is very rare in the United States.

Francisella tularensis is considered a potential bioterrorism agent. An aerosol release would be a possible method of infection, and would result in pneumonia cases, beginning 1 - 10 days after exposure.

References:

Eliasson H, Broman T, Forsman M, Back E. Tularemia: current epidemiology and disease management. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2006. Jun;20(2):289-311, ix.

Hassoun A, Spera R, Dunkel J. Tularemia and Once-Daily Gentamicin. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2006; 50(2),824.

Cronquist SD. Tularemia: the disease and the weapon. Dermatol Clin . 2004; 22(3): 313-20, vi-vii.

Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2003:917.

Cohen J, Powderly WG. Infectious Diseases . 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2004:1649-1653.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com