Avashia Swati B, Petersen Jeannine M, Lindley Connie M, Schriefer Martin E, Gage Kenneth L, Cetron Marty, DeMarcus Thomas A, Kim David K, Buck Jan, Montenieri John A, Lowell Jennifer L, Antolin Michael F, Kosoy Michael Y, Carter Leon G, Chu May C, Hendricks Katherine A, Dennis David T, Kool Jacob L
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Mar;10(3):483-6. doi: 10.3201/eid1003.030695.
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.