Download Tularemia - Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Tularemia
 Tularemiaisafatalbacterialdiseaseofrabbitsandrodentsthatcanspread
tohumansandotherspecies.
Species Affected in Colorado
 Rabbits,hares
 Beavers,otherrodents
 Lesscommonly,otherspeciesincluding
In some cases of tularemia, hunters may observe pinpoint
white spots throughout the liver (photo credit Karen Fox CPW).
domesticanimalsandhumans.
What to Look For
 Multiplesickordeadrabbitsor
rodents(includingbeavers)
 Pinpointwhitespotsthroughoutthe
liverandspleen,nottobeconfused
withtapewormtracksintheliver(see
CPWrabbittapewormfactsheet)
Cause and Transmission
TularemiaiscausedbythebacteriaFrancisellatularensis.Infectionwiththistypeofbacteriaisfatal
inspeciesincludingrabbits,beavers,squirrels,andotherrodents.Infectionisusuallytransmitted
throughticks,bitingflies,andfleas.Wildcarnivoresandpetscanbecomeinfectedbyeatinginfected
carcasses,andanyspeciescanbeinfectedthroughtick,fly,andfleabites.Huntersandtrappersmay
beinfectedwhenskinningcarcasses,handlingtissues,orconsumingtissuesfromaninfectedanimal.
Lesscommonly,infectioncanoccurbyingestingfoodorwaterthathasbeencontaminatedwith
animalwastesorinfectedcarcasses.Infectionmayoccurfrombreathingaerosolizedbacteria,as
couldhappenwhenmowingoverdeadrabbitorrodentcarcasses.
Public Health Considerations
Tularemiacaninfecthumansanddomesticanimals,andinfectionscanbefatalifnotdetectedand
treatedpromptly.Topreventinfection,avoidticks,fliesandfleasbywearinglongclothingandinsect
repellents,andusingfleaandtickpreventativesforyourpets.Donotallowpetstoconsume
carcasses.Donothandlesickorinjuredwildlife.Whenhunting,donotskinorconsumeanimalsthat
youobservetobesickordead.Whenfielddressingcarcasses,protectyourselffromcontactwith
tissues,fluids,andparasites(i.e.,ticks,fleas).Contactyourphysicianimmediatelyifyoufeelillor
developskinlesionsfollowingcontactwithwildanimals,ticks,fleas,orotherbitinginsects.
Additional Information/References:
Tularemia;ColoradoDepartmentofPublicHealthandEnvironment:
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDPHE‐DCEED/CBON/1251607766366
Tularemia;CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention:http://www.cdc.gov/Tularemia/