Lexic.us

Definition of Rabbit fever

1. Noun. A highly infectious disease of rodents (especially rabbits and squirrels) and sometimes transmitted to humans by ticks or flies or by handling infected animals.

Definition of Rabbit fever

1. Noun. (informal) tularemia ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Rabbit fever

1. A rare infection of rabbits and rodents caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. Francisella tularensis is found in many animals (rabbits, rodents) and may be transmitted by direct contact or via insect bite (ticks and deer-fly). Humans can also contract the illness via the direct contact with the infected animal carcass (break in the skin). The illness is characterised by an ulcerative lesion at the site of the inoculation with regional lymph node swelling, pneumonia, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and joint stiffness. Risk factors include an exposure to rabbits or recent tick bite. A vaccine is available for high risk workers. Treatment is with streptomycin or tetracycline. Tularaemia is fatal in 5% of untreated cases and in less than 1% of treated cases. Incidence: less than 200 cases per year (USA). Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (18 Jul 2002)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Rabbit Fever

Literary usage of Rabbit fever

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Threat of Bioterrorism and the Spread of Infectious Diseases: Hearing Before edited by Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (2001)
"And we came up with five and a group: smallpox; anthrax; plague; tularemia, or rabbit fever, as it's called, which can spread in an aerosol and cause quite ..."

2. The Ohio Educational Monthly and the National Teacher: A Journal of Education by Ohio State Teachers Association (1880)
"The rabbit fever is irregular in its course and leads to much wild and foolish speculation in which a great variety of people indulge. ..."

3. Recreation by George O. Shields, American Canoe Association, League of American Sportsmen (1897)
"... dignity to go rabbit hunting, but this year every one who could shoulder a gun was stricken with the rabbit fever. Big game, too. was very plentiful. ..."

4. Technology Against Terrorism: Structuring Security (1994)
"These would most likely be living bacteria such as B. anthracis (anthrax), F. tularensis (tularemia—rabbit fever), Y. pestis (plague), and Shigella ..."

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