[Francisella tularensis infection transmitted by prairie dog]

Abstract

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis; it mainly affects wild animals and only occasionally affects human beings. Uncontrolled trade involving "exotic" animals could become a new route of acquisition. We report the case of a 3-year-old boy who contracted the disease through a bite from a prairie dog. Outbreaks of tularemia have recently been described in some of these animals captured in Texas (USA) and subsequently sold to other countries. Infection due to Yersinia pestis has also been described in humans through contact with prairie dogs with the disease. Streptomycin and gentamicin are currently the drugs of choice against tularemia infection.