Which animal is a common reservoir for tularemia?

Which animal is a common reservoir for tularemia?

• A. Cats
• B. Birds
• C. Dogs
• D. Rabbits

Answer: (D)

Tularemia cycles in wildlife, with small mammals serving as reservoirs. Rabbits are a classic reservoir because the bacterium persists in their populations and in the environment, providing a continual source for vectors such as ticks and for predators that may pick up the infection. Humans and other animals usually get infected through contact with infected tissue or via vectors that have fed on infected rabbits. While cats, dogs, or birds can be affected, they are not the primary ongoing reservoir. So rabbits best fit the description of a common reservoir.

Tularemia cycles in wildlife, with small mammals serving as reservoirs. Rabbits are a classic reservoir because the bacterium persists in their populations and in the environment, providing a continual source for vectors such as ticks and for predators that may pick up the infection. Humans and other animals usually get infected through contact with infected tissue or via vectors that have fed on infected rabbits. While cats, dogs, or birds can be affected, they are not the primary ongoing reservoir. So rabbits best fit the description of a common reservoir.