Emerging Infectious Diseases (Mar 2004)

First Reported Prairie Dog–to-Human Tularemia Transmission, Texas, 2002

  • Swati B. Avashia,
  • Jeannine M. Petersen,
  • Connie M. Lindley,
  • Martin E. Schriefer,
  • Kenneth L. Gage,
  • Marty Cetron,
  • Thomas A. DeMarcus,
  • David K. Kim,
  • Jan Buck,
  • John A. Montenieri,
  • Jennifer L. Lowell,
  • Michael F. Antolin,
  • Michael Y. Kosoy,
  • Leon G. Carter,
  • May C. Chu,
  • Katherine A. Hendricks,
  • David T. Dennis,
  • Jacob L. Kool

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1003.030695
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3
pp. 483 – 486

Abstract

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A tularemia outbreak, caused by Francisella tularensis type B, occurred among wild-caught, commercially traded prairie dogs. F. tularensis microagglutination titers in one exposed person indicated recent infection. These findings represent the first evidence for prairie-dog-to-human tularemia transmission and demonstrate potential human health risks of the exotic pet trade.

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