Cat Ailments A to Z - Rabbit Fever

 

Don't blame the Bunny!

Seriously, the Bunny had nothing to do with it. 

It was the Tick. 

Giant Microbes may be able to make this guy cute.. but the real version is ugly.. and nasty.

Tularemia is also called 

Deerfly fever; Pahvant Valley plague; Ohara disease; Yato-byo ; Lemming fever

Why it isn't just called Tick Bite Fever or Stupid Ticks Suck Disease  - is beyond me. 

The worst sounding version is the Pahvant Valley Plague.

Maybe calling it Rabbit Fever was a way to take the fear out of it?

I mean...

Nope, still rather be around those vs ..

Ick...the Tick.

Okay...  on with the story...

After reading  more, I have learned that it may not just be the fault of Ick the Tick.
Infection can be caused by:

•  Ingesting contaminated food (raw meat from infected animals) 

-Eating animals which are infected - rodents/rabbits

• Drinking contaminated water.
• Airborne bacteria - entering mucus membranes though breaks or cuts in skin
• Deer Flys
• Ticks

Symptoms

Showing no signs at all

Mild fever

Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)

 Anorexia 

Dehydration

Listless

Ulcers

Abscesses

Jaundice

Pneumonia and/or 

Enlargement of Livers or Spleens. Death

Tularemia is a rare infectious disease that can attack the skin, eyes, lymph nodes, lungs and, less often, other internal organs. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella Tularensis

This is not only an issue for Animals. 

Humans also become infected.
Tularemia is considered a Zoonotic Disease - meaning it can be passed from animal to human.

Tularemia spreads to humans through several routes, including insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal. Highly contagious and potentially fatal, Tularemia usually can be treated effectively with specific antibiotics if diagnosed early.

Unlike some infectious diseases that spread from animals to people through a single route, tularemia has several modes of transmission. How you get the disease usually determines the type and severity of symptoms.
Here is a list geared to Humans

• Insect bites. Although a number of insects carry tularemia, ticks and deer flies are most likely to transmit the disease to humans.
• Exposure to sick or dead animals. Handling or being bitten by an infected animal, most often a rabbit or hare. Bacteria enter the skin through small cuts and abrasions or a bite, and an ulcer forms at the wound site. The ocular form of tularemia can occur when you rub your eyes after touching an infected animal.
• Airborne bacteria. Bacteria in the soil can become airborne during gardening, construction or other activities that disturb the earth. Inhaling the bacteria can lead to pneumonic tularemia.

• Contaminated food or water. Although uncommon, it's possible to get tularemia from eating undercooked meat of an infected animal or drinking contaminated water. 

 

 

The best way to insure your cat does not come into contact with this disease 

Keep them indoors

Apply Flea/Tick prevention

Do not allow them to eat rodents/rabbits

 

Both human and feline should be monitored for tick exposure 

When in doubt, let the Vet check it out

( I suppose the humans can go to their own Dr)

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