Tularemia

Barton W. Rohrbach Dr., University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Abstract

A case report is given of a man who was bitten by his cat when he took a dead rabbit away from it. 3 days later the cat developed a pyrexia and was anorexic and listless, but recovered without treatment. The man became ill 4 days later with fever, chills, muscle aches, chest pains and coughed and vomited. He also developed skin lesions like insect bites. He was diagnosed as having tularaemia (Francisella tularensis) and was treated with streptomycin. The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease are discussed.