First reported prairie dog-to-human tularemia transmission, Texas, 2002.
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.
Avashia
Swati B
SB
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. swati.avashia@tdh.state.tx.us
Petersen
Jeannine M
JM
Lindley
Connie M
CM
Schriefer
Martin E
ME
Gage
Kenneth L
KL
Cetron
Marty
M
DeMarcus
Thomas A
TA
Kim
David K
DK
Buck
Jan
J
Montenieri
John A
JA
Lowell
Jennifer L
JL
Antolin
Michael F
MF
Kosoy
Michael Y
MY
Carter
Leon G
LG
Chu
May C
MC
Hendricks
Katherine A
KA
Dennis
David T
DT
Kool
Jacob L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012589:Sciuridae; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*